Yuma Sheriff’s Office to transition to less lethal weapon system

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) - Eight months ago, the Yuma County Sheriff's Office announced they will move on from using lethal weapons.

Weapons such as shotguns were previously used for certain situations but sheriffs may have another option when facing dangerous suspects.

One non-lethal weapon seen recently was a 'super sock round,' which was used to knock a suspect to the ground.

"What we were lacking was an extended range less than lethal weapon system, and that's where we started looking at less than lethal shotguns as an option," said Lt. Samuel Pavlak of the Yuma County Sheriff's Office.

As to know if the switchover was in response to the deaths of George Floyd, Eric Gardner, and Breonna Taylor.

"Prior to those incidents occurring, this is something that the sheriff's office has been looking at. Some other options that were available," Pavlak explained.

Once the switchover occurred, the sheriff's office put their super sock to the test and has used it several times since, so the YCSO now has multiple options while on the force.

Now that we're eight months in the YCSO's main goal is to deescalate a situation they face through non-lethal means.