City police use seized crime cash to buy new, non-lethal tool to use in potentially violent situations
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The Winnipeg Police Service has used about $120,000 in seized cash to purchase a new non-lethal option to be used in potentially violent encounters.
The “foam round” launcher is what police classify as intermediate use-of-force option, putting it in the same category as stun guns, batons and pepper spray.
The provincial government provided the WPS last month with about $644,000 in criminal property forfeiture funding, earmarked for a variety of initiatives.
Police used $122,664 of the money to buy several single-shot, 40mm foam round launchers from Wolverine Supplies, a gun and outdoors store in Virden that also sells certain products for law enforcement.
The launchers fire 40mm rounds made of spongy foam material, which are generally meant to be aimed at the thighs or arms to cause painful blunt trauma. Only officers trained on their use will be able to use them, police say.
WPS spokesman Const. Claude Chancy could not immediately confirm the number of launchers purchased.
Less-lethal foam round launchers are commonly used by law enforcement agencies elsewhere in Canada and in the United States.
City police are also using the provincial cash for training on the new launchers and with ballistic shields, emotional survival training, t0 buy a new inflatable shelter for search-and-recovery divers and purchase additional equipment for crisis negotiators.
The funding will also help train WPS aerial surveillance pilots and investigators who work on sex crimes, missing persons, unidentified remains, pedestrian collisions, cyber crimes and cryptocurrency.
The criminal property forfeiture fund is the pot of cash seized by the province via civil forfeiture lawsuits.
Those lawsuits see government lawyers apply in civil court to confiscate cash and property believed to be obtained via unlawful activity or that was used to commit crimes. Those proceedings are separate from criminal courts.
fpcity@freepress.mb.ca