More rifles for Blue Springs police
Council debates department's needs.
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By Kelly Evenson - [email protected]
The Examiner
Posted Nov 03, 2009 @ 12:30 AM

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Blue Springs, MO — .Now that the Blue Springs Police Department has more high-powered rifles for its police officers, Council Member Sissy Reed thinks the focus should move to other department needs – such as computers for the patrol vehicles.

“These high-powered rifles are used so seldomly. I can’t visualize a time where we would need more unless we were under terrorist attack,” she said at the Blue Springs City Council meeting Monday. “I just see other places where we could use these funds. I believe we are over-stretched now and can’t see a time where we would need to buy any more.”

The City Council unanimously approved the purchase of 24 Smith and Wesson M&P AR15 patrol rifles, along with 24 Eotech holographic sights from Express Police Supply. The purchase, which is included in the 2009-10 budget, was $28,743. The purpose of the rifles, which were described as “high-powered,” will further equip trained uniformed officers to ensure extra measures of safety.

This is because more criminals have armed themselves with high-caliber weapons, increasing the danger to the community and police officers, said Police Chief Wayne McCoy. It will also allow the police department to maintain multiple weapons on active patrol at all times.

However, McCoy said these weapons will not be available for just any officer. Those who choose to use the rifles must complete specific training.

“This will make sure that we are adequately equipped while the officers are on the streets,” he said. “It is not for everyone. These are not shotguns and take specialized training. We believe these (rifles) meet our need at this time.”

But while Reed believes that there are now more than enough rifles for police officers, Council Member Sheila Solon would like to see even more – enough that every officer would have the option to use one.

“I am pleased to see that we are approving this purchase,” she said. “I know that the City Council remains supportive of making sure officers have the equipment that they need. This is a really good thing. I think it is the first step, but we need to make sure that every officer that needs or wants one of these has that opportunity.”

Mayor Carson Ross agreed the Police Department has needs, but additional rifles after this purchase is not one of them.

“I want to first make sure that there are data (computer) terminals in every car to help our officers and dispatchers,” he said. “Those need to be placed in cars first. We will listen to the chief to determine what other needs are necessary.”
http://www.examiner.net/news/x896786458/More-rifles-for-Blue-Springs-police

For the life of me I cannot fathom why PD's keep purchasing EOThings. They eat batteries and spontaneously turn themselves off on you. I'd much rather have an Aimpoint that needs a new AA battery every 5 years and stays on all the time. TCO, people...look at the TCO...not just the sticker price.

Search through the Optics forum here. The issues with EOThings are not new.



If they have the need to keep replacing batteries and to have the sight blink off during a callout, fine by me.

...so picture that you're a SWAT guy on a callout to a barricaded suspect. It's been more than 3 hours since you showed up on scene. You see movement at one of the windows and the guy comes out with a Ruger blackhawk revolver and points it in the general direction of your element and....WHERE THE FUCK DID THE RETICLE ON MY SIGHT GO?

...or picture that you're on patrol and you hear a shots fired call come over the radio. You rush to the scene to see an officer bleeding from the head behind his cruiser with a drawn weapon calling for help. You stop, rush to the trunk and get the carbine out.

Crap, the sight isn't on.

Crap, the sight WON'T TURN ON.

Crap.

Both real incidents. I'd much rather have an Aimpoint.

Much of what constitutes "training" for police departments would stun people into disbelief. For instance: Low light qualifications. Did you know that there is a state in our grand nation whose low light qualification is firing 12 rounds with welder's goggles on?

...and I don't mean with an accuracy standard, I mean just pulling the trigger 12 times with welder's goggles on your face. That's the qual.

That a department provides little or no specialized training on a long gun should not shock and amaze.

It helps when you don't have to pay the FET on those items.

I guess I should look on the bright side. At least this department is progressive enough to use an RDS. I've seen some departments that won't let the officers add a light, sling, or optic to the weapon. Insert growing picture here.