Middletown Township is purchasing 20 new patrol rifles and related equipment for the police department.
Advertisements
The Middletown Township Board of Supervisors last week authorized the purchase of 20 new patrol rifles and related equipment for a total of $45,553.40.
Police Capt. Pete Feeney explaining that the current fleet of Colt M4 carbines, which were purchased in 2001, has reached the end of its usable life cycle.
“We have failures with them in training, which makes us question the reliability in a practical application,” Feeney said. “We’ve fired many rounds through them in training over the last 24 years.”
Advertisements
The upgrade package includes 20 Colt M4 enhanced patrol carbines, red dot optical sights, sound suppressors, tactical lights, and slings.
The new rifles will be equipped with a slightly shorter barrel, which, when combined with the sound suppressor, results in a rifle about the same overall size as the current ones in use, Feeney said.
Advertisements
A key feature of the new equipment is the addition of sound suppressors, which Feeney noted as crucial for officer safety and hearing protection.
“The sound from a rifle round can cause hearing damage very quickly. We know from experience it only takes a few rounds, especially in an indoor environment, to cause some level of permanent hearing damage,” the captain explained.
The suppressors are also expected to help officers distinguish between friendly fire and suspect fire in active shooter situations.
Advertisements
Feeney noted that the department’s weapons maintenance program had extended the life of the current rifles beyond expectations.
“As we always do, it’s really our maintenance program that has caused us not to have to spend this money five or ten years earlier than we did, and hopefully we’ll have the same results going forward,” Feeney said.
Advertisements
According to sales material from Colt, the M4 rifle was purpose built for law enforcement and has been proven over years of use. Versions of the M4 rifle are used by military and police agencies around the globe.
The total cost breakdown is $22,771.80 for the rifles, $9,074.40 for AimPoint Red Dot Optics, $19,700 for suppressors, and $4,007.20 for tactical lights and slings.
Advertisements
Funding for the purchase will come from the department’s budget allocations. The police department had initially budgeted $30,000 for 10 rifles this year and planned to purchase an additional 10 next year. However, the department opted to complete the entire purchase at once for logistical efficiency, Feeney said.
To offset costs, the township secured a $10,000 grant from the Delaware Valley Workers Compensation Trust towards the purchase of the suppressors. The grant was obtained due to the safety benefits and potential reduction in hearing damage-related workers’ compensation claims, officials said.
Advertisements
To pay for the full purchase, the department will defer a planned $15,000 Taser upgrade that was originally scheduled for this year to next year or the following year.
Supervisor Dana Kane commended the police department’s approach, stating, “I just appreciate the amount of work that went into this to getting the loan, the grant, to figuring out what’s the priority. You know, we’re operating in a deficit, so everything helps.”
The department, according to Feeney, will keep the current, older patrol rifles and use them for training.
Advertisements
Advertisement
Convenient Legal Access to High Quality Cannabis Just A Few Minutes Away!
Canna Remedies: Educate Curate Elevate
Advertisements
Report a correction via email | Editorial standards and policies
