Agenda Packets - 2003/07/14 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Item No: 08C Meeting Date: July 14, 2003 Type of Business: CA WK: Work Session; PH: Public Hearing; CA: Consent Agenda; CB: Council Business City of Mounds View Staff Report To: Honorable Mayor and City Council From: Mike Sommer, Police Chief Item Title/Subject: Authorization to Purchase six M16A1 rifles through the 1122 program, and purchase of the necessary mounting hardware and ammunition. Date of Report: July 14 2003 Background: Mounds View Police squad cars are currently equipped with Remington 870 -12- gauge shotguns. Some of these shotguns are nearly thirty years old. These are the only long guns available to officers of Mounds View Police Department. These weapons are loaded with 00 buckshot which contain nine .32 caliber projectiles. When fired, this weapon distributes the nine .32 caliber rounds in a random pattern with the pattern spreading over increasing distances proportionate to the distance fired. The shotguns have an effective range of about 50 yards. In a fully developed suburban setting, such as Mounds View, in the event it becomes necessary to fire a shotgun, projectiles will be distributed in a wide pattern. This presents serious safety and liability issues. Numerous cities across the country have experienced large monetary judgments against them as a result of the use of police shotguns and the wide shot pattern associated with them. Additionally, numerous cases have occurred where police have been unable to effectively handle armed encounters with suspects possessing rifles, as the police lacked a weapon that would be on par with a rifle used by a criminal suspect. Police rifles in many police agencies are replacing the police shotgun. In our area the nearby Police Department's of New Brighton, Fridley, Spring Lake Park, Roseville, and Blaine all have their squads equipped with police rifles. The rifle fires a single projectile, which can be aimed with much greater accuracy and hit targets at further distances then a shotgun. Discussion: The U.S. Army Tank, Automotive and Armament Command through the 1122 program allows state and local law enforcement agencies to purchase reconditioned (like new condition) M16A1 .223 Rifles at a price greatly reduced from the retail price for such a weapon. The cost per rifle under this program is $421.21(including tax and shipping) The cost for a similar rifle from Streichers Police Equipment is $649, and $692 from Appleland sports police equipment. The Police Department currently has a $1500 credit balance with Streichers Police Equipment from a previous transfer of departmental weapons. The Police Department has budgeted for the expenditure of forfeiture funds for the purchase of equipment such as police rifles. The total cost of the rifles is within the amount budgeted from the forfeiture fund for equipment. Staff recommends utilizing $2527 of forfeiture funds for the purchase of the rifles, and the $1500 credit balance from Streichers Police Equipment for the ammunition and mounting brackets to mount the rifles in squad cars. Recommendation: Staff recommends authorization be given for the purchase of police rifles to help put our officers on par with the weapons used by the criminal elements in our jurisdiction and those jurisdictions around us that we support or that have mutual aid compact with. Staff recommends authorization to utilize the Streichers Police Equipment balance of $1500, plus forfeiture funds in the amount of $2527 for the purchase of six M16A1 rifles through the 1122 program, and purchase of the necessary mounting equipment, and ammunition, and cases to put the rifles into service. _____________________ Respectfully submitted by Mike Sommer, Police Chief