by Michael Ferraresi - Dec. 22, 2008 05:21 PM

The Arizona Republic

An unexpected Christmas donation from actor David Spade is expected to provide Phoenix police with enough money to buy an additional 50 semi-automatic rifles for patrol officers in 2009.
The $100,000 gift announced Monday means as many as 300 officers could soon be armed with Bushmaster AR-15s, even in light of recent debates between police and union officials about the availability of the high-powered weapons during the city's ongoing budget strife.
Advocates said the need to arm more patrol officers with rifles has only grown since union officials proposed in 2006 that officers should be allowed to buy their rifles if the city is unable to provide them. Police leaders met recently on the issue but have yet to expand the self-purchase policy beyond handguns and shotguns.
Spade, a Scottsdale Saguaro High School graduate, provided the money to a non-profit police foundation after seeing a jarring television news report about gun violence. Police leaders said Spade told them he was inspired to help keep the community safe.
The comic-turned-movie star provided the check to Phoenix Police Chief Jack Harris early Monday but did not appear at the press conference. The Phoenix Police Foundation expects to use the $100,000 on rifles.
Spade also donated $25,000 last year after the line of duty death of Phoenix Officer Nick Erfle, an incident where tactical officers used an AR-15 to fatally shoot at the man suspected of his slaying, who was holding a hostage at gunpoint.
"I'm thankful someone like David Spade would remember his hometown and help increase the safety of officers on the street," said Harris, who joined Mayor Phil Gordon and other leaders Monday to accept Spade's check at Desert Horizon Precinct in northeast Phoenix.
Police SWAT and tactical response officers are most commonly trained to use assault rifles. However, patrol officers are often the first to encounter criminals with heavy weaponry, police say.
Gordon said Spade's gift was welcome during the difficult economic times, and that it would help the city send a message to criminals, "that our officers shouldn't be the ones they go after."
More than 120 Phoenix patrol officers currently have access to rifles. More than 100 more have been ordered or could be shifted to patrol from other units.
Mark Spencer, president for the Phoenix Law Enforcement Association, said more officers who apply to use rifles could be trained in the next six months.

awesome!

I saw this story on TV.

Good on Spade!

I'm impressed!

Impressed?

Hell, I am surprised!

+1

Kudos to Mr. Spade!

amazing, I always thought he was kinda strange.  Turns out to be a nice guy.

He's strange.  You say that like it's a bad thing.  I don't like the chief's attitude.  I like Spade's, though.

$2K per rifle?!

Sounds like a load of crap to me.

Ammo, mags, spare parts, training, it all adds up.

Well done Mr. spade.  

Now if he could get some of his Hollywood friends to pony up for their hometown agencies.

Outstanding.  That is way cool!

I know a few Phoenix cops and they are in awe that I can carry my own rifle.  Then again, our County is pretty liberal when it comes to fire arms.

Man can I use those 2 words in the same sentence?

Does not compute.

But cool.

Good stuff.

Surprising.

Big highfive @ Mr. Spade for it.

I just saw this on the TV news.

The showed pictures of someone holding an AR type rifle, followed by video footage of Spade receiving a plaque, etc.

The commentary on the news was that he'd donated a $100,000 for them to buy "rifles".  Rifles???  If they showed a picture of me holding that "rifle" on the news I'd be carrying an ASSAULT RIFLE.  When the police are getting them they are just "rifles".

Same old BS.

Hi Five Mr. Spade.



There is a glimmer of hope in Hollywood.

I wonder if Spade has one.

That's all well and good - but Spade buying rifles for the PoPo doesn't necessarily equate to him being pro-gun.

I know he gave money to a widow of a slain officer awhile back.....

He's good in my book.

very nice on both donations by Spade. Totally 180 deg opposite of how I usually feel about hollywood types.

Good Job Mr Spade,

J-

Yep, kudos to Mr. Spade.

Mr Spade is a great american and a patriot

There is still some good left in hollywood...

Congrats to Spade.  Maybe he should be sent a membership on the house from the mods?

Now watch, Spade will probally get pulled over for DUI or something

Good for Spade though,  not to many pro-gun Hollywooders......

Oh and $2000 per rifle wont be too far off in the coming year

Never was a fan, but I'm glad to hear it.  Good for him.

.....and thats not the topic of the thread now is it?  


The topic is, Mr. Spade did a good deed for his community. Try to be a little more thankful for once.

Good shoot check!

Cry me a river.  

Awesome to Mr Spade....

Cool, I always enjoyed his acting. He was very funny on SNL along with Farley, Sandler, Myers etc, back when SNL was funny.

This last part of the statement is what concerns me the most..... Who is it that they want the criminals to GO AFTER,  the unarmed or rather DISARMED citizens who are only guilty of being in the wrong place at the wrong time?

I would never have guessed this from Mr. Spade.

Kudos.

Damn, that's awesome

Why?  There is no way they are take home rifles, meaning there is an armory.  Armory must be staffed.  Put lights and something other than iron sights on the rifles.  Might hire an in house gunsmith with tools.  SRT/SWATs would probably have various forms M4's, sharpshooter capabilities, and a mix of full/semi autos.  Not to mention they'll probably have a reserve of rifles as others are getting repaired.  I can easily see how the math works out.  Oh I forgot to mention training and yearly qualifying.  Definitely that money could all be put towards evil black assassin killer uber killing killer machines ....

pretty cool of him. To bad there arent more people like Mr. Spade

He kept a shotgun under his bed, and ended up using it to scare off an ex-assistant that flipped out, broke into his house while he was asleep, and started beating the living crap out of him. They fought in and out of the house and the guy wouldn't let him escape so Spade finally got back into the bedroom and came back out with the gun and the guy split. Spade says the guy was actually trying to get to the gun in the first place so he could kill himself.