When I first read your post approximately 30 minutes ago I dismissed it in my mind as something you just made up. But when it was brought up on Fox News a few minutes ago I recalled having read or heard report about it the government supplied the border controls which included Brian Terry shutguns with bean bag ammo
Below is a link to a video describing using this type of weapon in law enforcement. Of course they say towards the end of the report that if the bean bag fails to suppress the assailant then the officer is vulnerable. Duh...
Police: Bean bag rounds can save lives (Video)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=So2156Ld2yw&feature=related
The non-lethal rounds rule mirrors AZ’s Dept. of Corrections; the first rounds are always non-lethal. DOC calls ‘em knee-knockers.
Brian Terry had 00 Buckshot in reserve but didn’t have time to load those rounds before he was hit. That information was part of the news reports almost immediately in Dec. ‘10; but was rarely mentioned again as this all played out over the last 18 months.