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| -Lurid Crime Tales- |
| Phoenix PD To Equip 120 Patrol Officers With AR-15s |
| 2008-10-02 |
| 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 AR-15 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 AR-15 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 an AR-15 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. |
| Posted by:Anonymoose |
| #17 If Chuck Norris votes Republican because he's afraid of Sarah Palin, what chance has some poor ol' bear got? |
| Posted by: Jolutch Mussolini7800 2008-10-02 19:06 |
| #16 AP, given the stuff Alaska State Troopers might face (grizzlies, moose, polar bears), I'd think they should have been equipped with M1As. Officers just need to utter the magic word "Sarah" and the bear will flee. |
| Posted by: JFM 2008-10-02 15:40 |
| #15 I thought some of the 9-11 hijackers had spent time in Phoenix, as well. AR-15's are nothing. I'm all for military hardware, including armed drones, in the border areas. We have to defend against all enemies, foreign and domestic, and if that doesn't include the home turf, its a meaningless oath. |
| Posted by: Danielle 2008-10-02 15:05 |
| #14 It's not that they don't need the firepower. It's that a dozen M16's aren't enough. They need more than guns. Like, intel and stuff would be nice. |
| Posted by: Mike N. 2008-10-02 13:06 |
| #13 In Idaho the Idaho State Police have a shotgun in the front and a rifle in the trunk (quite often full auto). Local entities vary in policy. I'm sure the LA cops (10 years ago) were wishing they didn't have to borrow from the local guns shops during that bank robbery shootout where the bad guys had armor and full auto (illegal by the way) rifles. These were just professional bank robbers, not MS-13. |
| Posted by: tipover 2008-10-02 12:57 |
| #12 Pappy's got it. Mexican cartels are sending hit squads into Phoenix to get those seeking safe haven in US. They are using armored vehicles and full-auto weapons. Phoenix cops just want to have equivalent firepower. But, for those of us familiar with them, we realize the consequences of spraying shots downrange with these babies. You could be 2 blocks away, loading groceries, and get your head blown apart. So things get a little dicier. Don't worry though, LAPD and CHP, have been packing these for several years after the N. Hollywood bank robbery, when they were outgunned and had to go down and beg for autos at B&B Guns, one of my favorite shops, at the time. Nothing too untoward has occurred. Phoenix, though, may have street fire fights, due to their proximity to the border. Anyone questioning why these Mexicans can come over here in the first place ? It is and will jeopardize real US citizens. I hope they understand this. |
| Posted by: Woozle Elmeter 2700 2008-10-02 12:53 |
| #11 With all due respect to those who say that Phoenix doesn't need the firepower....sure, it's been a while since I worked there, but from what my buddies on the force say, the situation has only gotten worse. The "hardworking" illegals that the activists are all mushy over are trickling out, but the bad guys aren't by any measure. Please also keep in mind that the traffic there beyond sucks, and the city proper is well over 400 square miles in area. If you are stuck up in the mountains in north Phoenix and the guys with the heavy weaponry are in central Phoenix, you may be waiting for an hour. You may not have that luxury. |
| Posted by: Cornsilk Blondie 2008-10-02 12:47 |
| #10 It's not La Raza they have to worry about in the immediate time frame. It's MS-13 which has, among other things, openly bragged about assasinating US police officers who cross the gang. |
| Posted by: lotp 2008-10-02 12:16 |
| #9 It's gonna take more than a few M16's to stop La Raza. |
| Posted by: Mike N. 2008-10-02 11:44 |
| #8 City police don't need this firepower for their regular duties This is Phoenix. One has to read between the lines here. There are Mexican drug gangs. They have been operating in Phoenix, either in kidnapping, or killing defectors/snitches/family members of people they want to influence. A few months back, three of them were arrested wearing 'police' apparel. Fortunately an experienced officer who came on the scene figured it out and got the right sort of backup. A normal patrol unit would have been out-gunned and slaughtered. It got mentioned in the Arizona Repugnant and the local media, but in the press equivalent of a mumble. |
| Posted by: Pappy 2008-10-02 11:23 |
| #7 Can we expect the sheriff to escalate by equipping his deputies with roof ring mounted M2s? Shows remarkable ability to take out an engine block of a vehicle refusing to pull over. Tonight on COPS... |
| Posted by: Procopius2k 2008-10-02 11:19 |
| #6 I don't think it's a mistake to be prepared. Any mistake would be lack of training on how to use the AR-15. AZ has plenty of AK47s and more coming up from Mexico and need the firepower. |
| Posted by: Phosh Dark Lord of the Hatfields8580 2008-10-02 11:01 |
| #5 An M-16 AP? Really? I would think a M-14 would be superior in Alaska. Operating from a vehicle, the extra weight isn't an issue. But in Alaska the extra range and stopping power of the M-14 would be an advantage. At close range, Mr 12 gauge is your BEST friend. |
| Posted by: Minister of funny walks 2008-10-02 10:56 |
| #4 AP, given the stuff Alaska State Troopers might face (grizzlies, moose, polar bears), I'd think they should have been equipped with M1As. I'd sure rather have that to face a bear down with than an M16. .308 just packs a lot more punch... |
| Posted by: Jolutch Mussolini7800 2008-10-02 10:54 |
| #3 The Alaska State Troopers each are issued a Glock 40 cal sidearm, an M-16, and a 12-ga shotgun, and the training to use them all. |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul 2008-10-02 10:22 |
| #2 It's a deterrent. 60 sticks won't make a difference,not knowing where they are will. It won't work against the crazies, but it will give any guys confronting an armed encounter an edge. |
| Posted by: Skidmark 2008-10-02 10:10 |
| #1 Big mistake. City police don't need this firepower for their regular duties. It's better to have a small unit equipped and trained for the worst situations (and not let that unit serve drug warrants in their spare time). This is the sort of move that will keep Randy Balko busy with more unfortunate deaths and imprisonments. Big mistake. |
| Posted by: Steve White 2008-10-02 09:50 |