Cops carrying their own rifles

Officers who resigned or
retired in recent months haven’t been replaced.

By DENISE DICK

VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER

BOARDMAN — In tight economic times for the township police department, the officers are permitted to buy and carry their own personal AR-15 rifles while on duty.

The decision, made earlier this year, is based on Police Chief Patrick Berarducci’s concern for the safety of the officers as the township’s budget for the police department tightens and the department’s numbers dwindle. The assault rifles cost about $1,000. About two years ago, the department boasted 63 officers.

As some officers have retired of resigned, though, they haven’t been replaced, bringing the total to 55.

Berarducci said the officers’ personal assault rifle must be the same make, model and caliber as those bought by the department.

Any liability for the township remains the same regardless of whether the rifle is owned by the officer or the township, township officials said.

Some officers already are carrying their personal assault rifles in their cars.

One of those officers is Stephen Dubos, who has been with the department about four years.

He qualified with the assault rifle and began carrying it with him on duty about a month ago.

“It somewhat levels the playing field,” Dubos said.

A handgun, for example, doesn’t have the velocity or accuracy at greater distances that the rifles do, he explained.

Using his own firearm also ensures that the sight is tailored specifically for him, improving accuracy.

What’s behind this

Times have changed and the old standby shotgun is no longer the firearm of choice with officers confronting all types of weapons carried by criminals more frequently, the chief explained.

“I made the decision to allow officers to carry their own assault weapons shortly after taking office,” Berarducci said. “Policing has changed since I was a patrolman, and our officers today face a greater threat of gun violence than at any other time in our nation’s history.”

Officers can use their uniform allowance if they choose to purchase their own rifle, the chief said.

The auxiliary firearm is kept locked in the trunk with a special locking mechanism to prevent theft until the officer needs to use it.

It is a special-purpose firearm and is used to augment the officer’s normal duty weapons — the semiautomatic pistol and the 12-gauge pump shotgun.

“I want each officer to be able to make the decision for himself,” Berarducci said. “Our firearms officer, Sgt. Glen Riddle, has been very aggressive in his attempts to acquire military surplus M-16 assault rifles at no cost to arm the officers, but the process is cumbersome and time consuming.”

Type of firearms

The firearms policy was changed to allow officers to carry a personally owned AR-15 semiautomatic assault rifle, the same type of firearm issued by the department, after it has been inspected by the department’s firearms officer.

The gun is the civilian version of the M-16 rifle and fires the same ammunition, .223 caliber.

The department currently issues AR-15 and M-16 rifles for use by the officers, but there are not enough for each officer to have one. The goal is for each officer to have an assault rifle and a shotgun provided to him, but that will take time, Berarducci said.

Patrolman Daryn Tallman, president of the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 43, agreed.

“We share the chief’s concern for the safety of each of us as our number of officers continues to decline in the township,” Tallman added.

Once the rifle is approved for use, the officer must qualify with it on an annual basis and also have it inspected annually. The police department furnishes the ammunition for practice, qualification and duty use.