Posted: 10/20/2002 7:45:47 AM EDT
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FREMONT, N.H. -- A Massachusetts police officer who kept sniper rifles and more than 10,000 rounds of ammunition in a storage facility had no business possessing the items, his boss said Friday. Police recovered [b][red]two M1 Garand military sniper rifles[/red][/b], tear gas grenades, riot control spray and a bomb dismantling tool kit after investigating a break-in at a self-storage business. Lawrence (Mass.) Police Sgt. John F. Sapienza, who rented one of the burglarized units, told police he personally owned the weapons, Fremont Police Chief Neal Janvrin said. Lawrence Police Chief John Romero said Friday that Sapienzo had served as a bomb squad officer and department armorer until four years ago, when he was removed from those positions and ordered to turn in all related weapons and ammunition. He now works as a supervisor on the midnight shift. "He had no right to possess this stuff," Romero told The Eagle-Tribune. "We want to know what the connection is with New Hampshire." Some of the boxes holding the 10,600 rounds of ammunition were marked "Police Department Lawrence," but the words were crossed out with a black marker. Sapienza could not be reached Friday morning through the Lawrence police. A spokesman who did not give his name said Sapienza was scheduled to work Friday evening. The break-in was discovered Monday. A tip from an informant led police to two suspects and the stolen items. James Vasquez, 30, of Raymond, and Randy Sebring, 30, Manchester, were arrested Tuesday and charged with burglary, vandalism and theft of firearms. Sebring and Vasquez were released on bail pending arraignment Dec. 17 in Exeter District Court. Police do not believe the pair knew the storage space contained weapons. "They thought they found something that they could easily turn into cash," Janvrin said. Fremont Detective Sgt. Reese Bassett said he's confident all the weapons and ammunition were recovered. It is not illegal to own any of the weapons, with the possible exception of the tear gas grenades, Bassett said. Most of the ammunition was .223-caliber bullets, the size being used by the sniper terrorizing the Washington, D.C., area. But police stressed they do not believe the case has any connection with the Washington sniper. None of the ammunition in the unit fits the rifles that were recovered. [b][red]Bassett said Sapienza told him he bought the rifles at a gun show and was planning to move to nearby Sandown.[/red][/b] Janvrin said he suspects the weapons were sold by the military to a police department. He said such programs usually require police to return the weapons if they are no longer needed, to prevent them from being sold privately. (AP) |
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Quoted: Since when do police use garands? There's something that's just... not quite right about this story. Not just Garands, but M1 Garand military sniper rifles!!! I guess that means that he had two M1-C Garands. Damn!! If he bought a couple of those, then cops make a lot more money than I thought they did. Fvcking idiot reporters. |
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They had it on the Boston News a couple days ago when it happened. The cops had everything lined up on the table..as usual. The Garands were nothing special..just like something you'd get from DCM. Definately not M1C! The police chief they interviewed was pretty good. Refused to label the ammo as a 'cache', 'hoard' or 'arsenal'. Just said it was a lot of stuff. |
| Wait a second. It doesn't say he stole anything. That was just cleverly implied. Old ammo boxes could have been thrown away and he brought them home and used them for his own ammo. There is no evidence of any wrongdoing here whatsoever. I love how the media is jumping all over this "sniper rifle" thing. They have finally filled in the last hole--first it was Saturday night specials (all handguns), then assault weapons (all self-loading rifles and shotguns), and now we have "sniper weapons" meaning everything else not yet classified. |
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Yeah that goofy sombitch would arrest me an all my Disabled American Veteran/VFW buddies at the next parade or funeral... I'm awaiting the day we have to march in a parade without our rifles...thats when I will carry a big sign...that says something like "I fought for the constitution and they used the first ammendment to take away the second- and then they took away the first..next they took away the contsitituon..and finally they took us away.."- thats gonna be a big sign..I think I will need help ...:) |
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Quoted: Not exactly company office supplies is it? Actual, it's exactly the same. Petty theft is petty theft. Whether it's an accountant stealing a box of pens or a cop stealing a box of ammo. It always amazes me that someone will throw away a career by stealing some petty item they could easily afford. |
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Whos to say he stold anything,the boxes could have been empty ammo crates that instead of throwing away he just took home? And try as I might I can't get that .223 ammo to work in my M1 Grand,how does he do that? The tear gas well I wonder if it can be purchased also! Bob [:D] |
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If it was police property, then the media ought to be wondering what kinda property acountability system the police have if they just loose weapons. If they were police property and he had to turn them in, why did he not do it, and why did his boss not know he didn't? If they're his guns, are M1 Garands illegal there? Now maybe they found that the bomb dismantling kit was police property, and that's what they want back. Again, does this department have no property accountability system? Is it not possible that as a bomb technician, he bought his own tools, just like alot of stuff cops buy to use on the job? If he has no business with a gun, why is he still on the force? If he does actually own all the stuff, is there a law that prevents him from storing it in another state? Why was he "removed" from being on the bomb squad and the armourer? Being removed from the bomb squad and placed on the midnight shift may be some kinda career progression, but it doesn't sound like it on the surface. The whole story just doesn't seem to be there yet. Ross |
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I saw an ad for Leatherman tools the other day/year. It seems they make a special tool for bomb squads, or EOD. Wouldn't be funny if the 'tool' they found was nothing but a specialized Leatherman? When spun by the media it makes it sound like he had a few pounds of C4. -Luther |
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Three teenagers who grabbed a package from a woman's car in Des Moines, Iowa recently were in for an unpleasant surprise: the package contained droppings from the woman's dog. The victim said she had been walking her Cairn terrier "Tippy" and had used the bag to pick up after him. She said when she finished, she wrapped the 4-by-5-inch package and set it down on her car trunk. That's when the three teenagers rushed by. One grabbed the bundle and yelled "Thank you." The victim said she looked up, saw the trio racing away, and replied, "You're welcome." She told police,"I just wish I could have seen their faces when they opened it up." |
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Quoted: Quoted: A cop stealing material from the police department - REALLY smart. Not exactly company office supplies is it? Here is another... [url]http://www.thebigshow.com/downloads/various/dcrk091701.html[/url] Webpage LOOKS LIKE AN INSIDE JOB, CHIEF An employee of Arizona State University in Phoenix was arrested and charged with stealing money from a campus office. She has been charged with breaking and entering, burglary, and possession of burglary tools. The suspect is the coordinator of crime prevention programs at ASU. She was arrested at her office...which is located at the Phoenix police department. mmhmm... guess she should practice what she preachs.. |