The Kinney County Sheriff’s Department, located on the U.S.-Mexico border, has introduced new, less-lethal weapons to its arsenal, aimed at dispersing migrant crowds without causing serious harm. This initiative, led by Sheriff Brad Coe, is part of a broader effort to enhance border security while minimizing the potential for injury to both law enforcement officers and migrants.
NewsNation recently provided an exclusive look into the training sessions where Kinney County deputies learned how to operate these new tools, including pepper ball launchers and tear gas launchers. The pepper ball launchers, which can hold around 180 rounds, release a chemical irritant designed to affect the eyes, throat, and nose. Importantly, these devices are not intended to be fired directly at migrants but rather at the ground near them to encourage dispersal.
Sheriff Coe emphasized that the introduction of these weapons is a precautionary measure, intended to serve as a deterrent rather than a method of causing harm. He cited an incident in El Paso in March, where hundreds of migrants rushed the border, leading to injuries among both migrants and law enforcement officers. Coe believes that if less-lethal options like pepper ball launchers had been available at that time, the situation could have been managed more safely, reducing the risk of injuries.
The decision to equip deputies with these weapons was made possible by a state grant approved by the county. The primary goal is to enable law enforcement to handle potentially volatile situations more effectively, reducing the need for physical confrontations. Sheriff Coe also pointed out that in recent months, authorities have faced increasing aggression from migrants, with reports of concertina wire being cut and soldiers encountering hostile behavior.
While human rights groups have raised concerns about the potential for these weapons to violate constitutional and human rights, Sheriff Coe maintains that their use is crucial for preventing chaos at the border. He expressed hope that these tools will help avoid situations like the one in El Paso, where both migrants and law enforcement officers were injured.
In summary, the Kinney County Sheriff’s Department’s adoption of less-lethal weapons is seen as a necessary step to enhance border security and manage crowds more safely, with the overarching aim of minimizing harm to everyone involved.
Source: News Nation
