Investment in rubber bullets pays off for HPD
By Terry Murry on Wednesday, December 8th, 2021 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
HERMISTON – Hermiston police resorted to rubber bullets to stop a man allegedly charging them with two large hunting knives Monday night. They were responding to a domestic violence call at an apartment on West Hermiston Avenue.
Matthew Charles Earns, 30, of Hermiston was medically cleared before being arrested and jailed. Edmiston said Earns is alive in part because of his officers using restraint during a tense one-hour standoff.
“They used great restraint during the course roughly the hour that they were with him,” Edmiston said. “They knew that he did not want to die by officer suicide. They were ultimately able to take him into custody and all of our people went home at the end of the shift so I’m incredibly thankful and proud of that.”
Edmiston said that about a year ago when protests were turning violent across the country, the city decided to invest in less-lethal options. Prior to that their main go-to weapon was a Taser.
“Last year we were able to purchase several of the 40-mm launchers and the projectiles that go with them,” Edmiston said. “Then, ultimately, we were able to train everyone in patrol.”
The photo of the 40 mm less-lethal projectile is provided by the Hermiston Police Department.
