Police use less lethal 40 mm launcher to save man’s life

40 mm launcher fires sponge tipped rounds

Dave Delozier by Dave Delozier

The Madison police were able to use a newly acquired 40 mm launcher to save the life of a suicidal man.

The 40 mm launcher fires a sponge-tipped round that is effective at a 120-foot range.

“Initially the call came in with a young man literally cutting his neck on social media,” said Michael Koval, Madison police chief.

From a safe distance the responding officer was able to develop a dialogue with the man and buy enough time for the 40 mm launcher to be brought to the scene.

“The officer was able to get the time that he needed to get the 40 mm launcher on scene, and then once it was on scene from about 100 feet away he deployed the round striking the subject in the abdomen,” said Officer Christopher Masterson.

The 40 mm launcher fires the sponge tipped rounds at up to 40 miles per hour.

“Not only did it disable him to the point where the knife was dropped, but then the officers could render aid and put on the clotting patch that saved his life, ultimately stopped him from bleeding out,” said Chief Koval.

The Madison police acquired the 40 mm launchers, which cost $1,400 each. They were able to purchase enough to place two launchers in each district.

Madison police officers carry non-lethal Tasers, which can effectively be used up to 25 feet. Some officers have access to shotguns that fire a less lethal beanbag, which can effectively be uses up to 75 feet.

The 40 mm launcher allows officers to keep more space between themselves and a subject, work to develop lines of communication, while being in range to use a less lethal weapon.

“Time and space bring us options. So the longer we have, the more time we have, the more options we can bring to us,” said Officer Masterson.

The addition of the 40 mm launcher adds another less lethal option for officers that can be used, in some cases to avoid the use of deadly force.

“We don’t want them to be put into the proposition that it is an all or nothing proposition,” said Chief Koval.

The less lethal options do not remove the use of deadly force as an option when a subject is armed with a dangerous weapon or is an imminent threat to an officer or a bystander.

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