When someone in crisis might fall from a great height, Montgomery County Police officers deploy to secure the person’s safety from harm.
Now they have another tool – a gigantic inflatable safety cushion that will break the person’s fall and hopefully prevent injuries and even death.
The police now have two of these cushions, at a cost of $15,000 each.
On Tuesday, police showcased one of the bright yellow J.T. Skurlock safety cushions purchased thanks to a grant from the Diana Davis Spencer Foundation.
The cushion can be inflated in about a minute, minimizing the time a person would be in danger.
“The whole idea is to lessen injuries,” said Captain Nicholas Picerno, Special Operations Division.
According to Office Andrew Curran, one of the new safety cushions is designed for falls of up to 100 feet and the other smaller model works to absorb falls of up to 50 feet.
MCPD unveiled its newest life-saving tool at a news conference: a rapid-deploy air cushion that inflates in 60–90 seconds and stands around 10 feet tall, enhancing our response to critical incidents.#MCPNews #MCPD pic.twitter.com/nOBIH32j2o
— Montgomery County Department of Police (@mcpnews) June 10, 2025
