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Police Getting Bigger Guns

By Pat Peterson Reporter

Published: Tue, September 18, 2007 - 3:43 pm Last Updated: Tue, September 18, 2007 - 4:54 pm

Short URL: http://wkrg.com/a/5254/

Pat Peterson

Police officers say they're outgunned by criminals who are now carrying assault rifles and using high-powered weapons when committing crimes. The North Hollywood bank robbery incident in the late 19-90's forced police departments across the country to take a look at their weapons of choice when officers were outgunned by the robbery suspects who were using high-powered assault rifles.

A recent incident in Prichard and a police standoff in Loxley has prompted Robertsdale's chief of police to go on the offensive.

"We're buying 16 AR-15 assault rifles for our department," says Chief Brad Kendrick. "You have to continuously upgrade and update to protect yourself from the dangerous criminal element."

The AR-15 is the civilian version of the miltary M-16. The rifles will provide more cover, accuracy and protection for officers.

"Right now, our officers have their standard-issue sidearms and they carry shotguns, but that's not enough," says Kendrick.

"Today's crime is getting worse," says Robertsdale Police Sgt. Howard King. "It's a lot different than what it used to be. Criminals are starting to use AK-47 assault rifles and we're just no match for them."

The AR-16 rifle cost about a thousand dollars. Kendrick says the gun purchase won't cost them anything.

"We're paying for the guns from a recent drug and cash seizure."

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Robertsdale police chief buys 16 assault rifles for patrolmen

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Krickkett Says:

Thu, Oct 18, 2007 at 10:48 am

I agree that crime is getting worse and that the police need to be prepared and ahead of the game.
Along with that they need training….. lots and lots of training. I have been living in R’dale for 4 years and I see how the officers handle themselves every Friday and Saturday night.

Most are very professional but there are a couple that are total asses and I pray to GOD that they make them all take mental evaluations before handing these “gung ho” officers an assault rifle to run around the city with playing robo cop!

Thats one thing I DON’T miss about it living in R’dale city limits….you have a handful of cops that as children their parents told them that when they grow up they could be anything they chose to be….so they chose to be an a**hole.

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MeAmerican Says:

Thu, Oct 18, 2007 at 9:57 am

Do you want officers to defend the community, or do you want them to assault the community? Yep, a play on words indeed!
Did it really take an entire month for you to formulate that response?

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claycitymadness Says:

Thu, Oct 18, 2007 at 8:51 am

its a play on words but i hope that if the police are fired upon they do indeed go into assault mode, rather than defense mode. disable anyone that is using an assault rifle against them and consequently the general public, as those rifles go a long way and are not specific. lets hope they just dont get used very often, if they were never fired except in training i would be pleased, and so would the offocers who carry them.

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MeAmerican Says:

Tue, Sep 18, 2007 at 6:30 pm

Wouldn’t these actually be “Defense Rifles”? Who exactly are the police planning on assaulting? The term “Assault Rifle” sounds like a biased catch phrase intended to make one gun sound more deadly than others. I hope these new weapons serve the authorities well in their job of defending us and themselves against the “Assault Criminals”.

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