Phoenix PD to get more patrol rifles

General General Discussion
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10/03/2008

Phoenix PD to get more patrol rifles

By Lindsey Collom
Arizona Republic

PHOENIX — More patrol officers on Phoenix streets will soon be carrying semi-automatic rifles, a move that officials say will provide a better match for criminals and more accurate tool in high-risk encounters.

But a union representative says rank-and-file members are dissatisfied with department restrictions on who may access the additional firepower.

Officers are allowed to buy and use their own handguns and shotguns as long as the firearms meet department standards and the officer participates in required training. So far, the department has no plans to expand policy to include rifles.

Phoenix council members on Wednesday approved a request for the police department to purchase 60 Bushmaster .223-caliber rifles from Clyde Armory at a cost of $44,813.28. Officials anticipate having the order fulfilled in time for the first set of 20 officers to train with the rifles in early November.

There are currently 60 rifles assigned to patrol officers. Once the additional 60 are implemented, each squad will have access to a rifle. The eventual goal is to have three per squad, said Sgt. Andy Hill, a Phoenix police spokesman.

Special units have used the high-powered gun for years, and some patrol officers have been carrying them since 1999.

Police say rifles rival the speed and accuracy of handguns and shotguns, allowing officers to fire from a greater distance. The rifle rounds are fired at about 3,000 feet per second, roughly three times the speed of a bullet fired from a handgun.

Tactical units used a rifle to fire the fatal shot at the man suspected of killing Officer Nick Erfle on Sept. 18, 2007. Commander Dave Harvey said the shot had to be precise: Erik Jovani Martinez was holding a gun to the head of a hostage inside a vehicle.

Mark Spencer, president of the Phoenix Law Enforcement Association, said early response from a member survey shows that officers want the ability to purchase and use their own rifles on patrol. Spencer said allowing private purchase would ease department costs in a lean budget year and keep officers safer on the streets.

Sgt. Bret Draughn, who conducts firearms training for Phoenix police, said training staff couldn’t keep up with demand if officers were allowed to use personal rifles. Training requirements include an initial 40-hour course plus four hours each quarter. Draughn said the training ammunition budget — about $800,000 annually — would also be taxed.

Sgt. Tommy Thompson, a Phoenix police spokesman, said denial of private purchases also allows the department to better maintain control of the rifle program.

Spencer has spoken with the city Public Safety Subcommittee members about officer’s concerns. He plans to take the issue to management.

Copyright 2008 Arizona Republic

Hmmm…

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Well it could be worse. They could have purchased Olympic Arms or DPMS. Still rather ridiculous that they didn’t explore the option more and allow officers to purchase their own rifles. I am sure that many officers would also purchase their own ammo as well if that’s what it took to have the weapon.

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Considering what LEOs in many states make, I’d see it being an issue of an officer being hard pressed to come up with the cash. I know of one agency in Alabama (starting pay for a patrolman is under $12.00 per hr, now that’s criminal) that recently got an officer price of about $650 for DMPS rifles. The agency couldn’t afford to buy the weapons for the officers, so they had to approve a weapon that an officer could afford.

But in this case, since the city is buying them I ran the numbers. If my math is right that breaks down to about $746.89 a rifle. Im assuming that includes the taxes and all. Considering that I have been told that the Colt agency price is about $830 or $860 (I dunno if that includes the taxes), I can understand the budgetary reasons for doing this (remember bean counters rule the world). Now from a reliability standpoint I disagree with their decision, but from an accounting standpoint I can see why they made that decision. Yeah it sucks just the same.

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What taxes? My understanding is that the firearms for government agencies don’t have the firearms excise tax on them and govt agencies also tend to be sales tax exempt.

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I don’t know. It would be great if they didn’t have to pay them, but I am ignorant about how the excise tax works with government agencies and tax exempt status. So if you’re right, then I just learned something new.

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I believe that you are correct on that. Also, the last time I had access to FEDLOG an M4 cost the U.S Gov’t about $575.00. That is just the carbine, no accessories. Surely somehow Colt could help an LEA out by getting them a good price on a weapon by ensuring that they get a quality one at the same time.

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Here in WA, LEAs have to pay state tax (sales or use) on everything they buy. No exemptions (apart from the FET exemption).

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State/local agency weapons and ammunition purchases are FET and sales tax exempt. Federal agencies are not. Individual officer purchases are not.

GSA (1122) program purchasing of a mil gun is inexpensive, but has a set of nuisances that some don’t want to mess with.

Agency pricing for Colt is now at the $875-1200 range for products 6520, 6721, and 6920. Specific price point depends on agency, quantity, and vendor buying power.

There are worse choices than the Bushmaster. Better, too.

There was almost certainly a better deal to be made here. Phoenix PD isn’t an icon agency, but would nonetheless be useful for advertising. I’m curious if they even talked to S&W, as Smith has been inking some sweetheart deals.

No mention of bid specifications.

Sgt. Thompson’s wise to consider collateral effects of private purchases, but those can be managed if approached smartly.

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If they authorize them to buy their own weapons, the officers that want to carry them will find the money to get them. I say let them buy their own weapons and ammo if they want to carry the carbines. 4 hrs each quarter just to keep the carbine? I would say just have them qualify with the carbines the same times as their sidearms unless its a pistol only qualification range.