The Oklahoma County Sheriff's Office recently took to social media to announce an accolade for one of their own. Master Sergeant Michael Hanson Jr. was distinguished as the Kiwanis Club Deputy Sheriff of the Year for 2024, a testament to his service and quick thinking in the field. According to the Oklahoma County Sheriff's Office posted on Facebook, the award specifically highlighted Hanson's role in a March 2024 incident involving a pursuit with a suicidal veteran.
During the noted event, Hanson deployed stop sticks to halt a chase that ended with the veteran rushing towards law enforcement wielding a knife. His decision to use a less than lethal beanbag shotgun, over potentially more fatal measures was a crucial one. The veteran, instead of being fatally shot, was subsequently brought to the VA Hospital for treatment. The Oklahoma County Sheriff's Office credits Hanson's action, saying, "We have no doubt that Msgt. Hanson saved the veterans life that day!"
Hanson, a 20-year veteran with the Oklahoma County Sheriff's Office, is part of the Oklahoma County Tactical Team. His experience and the use of non-lethal force in this situation reflects a growing discourse around police response to mental health crises.
