Posted on 09/21/2014 4:30:03 PM PDT by smokingfrog
Sheriff's officials in Goshen County are touting a grenade launcher as a useful tool for keeping the peace, even though they have never used it.
The Casper Star-Tribune reported Sunday that officials bought the weapon for use in the county jail, which houses 25 inmates and has not had a large fight in the past year.
Lt. Jeremy Wardell says the grenade launcher, one of three the county has owned, is a less-lethal option for controlling riots. He compared it to pepper spray or a Taser.
"We would use it in situations when less-lethal force is justified to get the situation under control," Wardell said. "That tool gives us an option not to use lethal force."
Officials say deputies can also use it to fire tear gas during a hostage situation, though Goshen County has not had one in 15 years.
Goshen County, which has about 14,000 residents, received its first grenade launcher, a 37mm, in the 1950s from Federal Signal, Sheriff Dan Murphy said. Federal Signal is a global corporation that makes and distributes equipment for police and fire departments.
(Excerpt) Read more at abcnews.go.com ...
Exactly. My old agency had 3 M203 grenade launchers attached to M16 rifles. They were used for tear gas, and we would likely have come under federal investigation had we tried to obtain any lethal ammunition, which would have been impossible anyway. Having the launch mechanism is a whole lot different than getting your hands on the ammunition. Even 40mm tear gas is expensive.
Excellent intimidation factor!
The old Federal inch and a half gas gun. I qualified ‘expert’ with it in the Academy. Much to my regret.
I inhaled as much of that crap as the bad guys did. “Hey kid! We got a barricade. Grab yer gas gun. You’re the ‘expert’, remember?”
Yep. Good times. Before we had SWAT.
against Americans
think we will see those at the border?
YUP!
Movie buff ping. d:^)
Back in the dark recesses of my mind, I can come up with occasions were WP would be appropriate. Any large aggregation of ISIS would fit my preferences. It did have its uses.
Bloop . . . Blam!
“Dang, Loo-tenant, you blew up the Chief's car with that grenade launcher.”
don’t give a damn who your sorry ass is,
You use a grenade launcher against me or mine and I’m coming after ya.
Good luck with that.
The County jail only houses 25 inmates???
That has to be a very tiny County or very liberal law enforcement officials and judges!
Local County jails here in the DFW Metro area are multi-storied large buildings and most cities/towns here can easily house 25.
All of a sudden they need launchers capable of throwing 40mm shells 400 yards?
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The grenade launcher is hand held, like a shotgun; it’s not a field artillery piece.
Back in the dark recesses of my mind, I can come up with occasions were WP would be appropriate. Any large aggregation of ISIS would fit my preferences. It did have its uses.
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Agree. I also think it’s a shame that napalm and cluster bombs can’t be used on ISIS and the Afghan poppy fields.
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