The Montgomery County Sheriff Office has received a $5,600 grant to purchase chemical munitions for its riot squad.

The grant from the National Rifle Association Foundation will be used to purchase non-lethal weapons, such as pepper spray and tear gas, as well as the methods to disperse them, such as grenades or guns. It is part of the arsenal to equip the riot squad in the case of civil unrest or significant protest in the county

The last time the riot squad was used was in the mid-1990s when the Ku Klux Klan held a recruitment drive on the steps of the Montgomery County Courthouse.

The county maintains a riot squad of 22 patrol deputies who are specially trained and equipped for civil unrest. Their equipments includes shields, helmets, knee and elbow pads. The grant will allow provide the squad with chemically base weapons for their use.