HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem III (F) Approval and Authorization for Use of $7,458.00 of Forfeiture Funds Agenda 3-16-93
Item III F
Ocoee
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Ocoee - • 11,114;4 .6= tment
John H. Boyd O•• ,• •= D 47.1
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Chief of Policer•o, coo°
"Service With Honor And Pride"
TO: The Honorable Mayor and Boar City Commissioners
FROM: John H. Boyd, Chief of Polic
DATE: March 11 , 1993
SUBJECT: USE OF FORFEITURE FUNDS FOR REPLACEMENT FIREARMS
STAFF REPORT
ISSUE
Should the Honorable Mayor and Board of City Commissioners approve
the use of Forfeiture Funds in the amount of $7 , 458 towards the
purchase of replacement firearms for sworn personnel .
BACKGROUND
Law Enforcement has drastically changed over the last eight years ,
since the City of Ocoee purchased the weapons currently being
carried by the sworn personnel of the Police Department . One of
the biggest changes is in the type of weapon carried and the
caliber used. All across the Nation, Law Enforcement Agencies have
been testing and evaluating different types of weapons and
calibers . Through the various testing and evaluating conducted by
various Law Enforcement Agencies , including the Federal Bureau of
Investigation (F.B. I . ) , it was found that the . 40 caliber type
round was , in the F.B. I . ' s opinion, of a superior type of caliber
compared to the 9mm and the . 45 caliber .
DISCUSSION
When discussing the budget for 92-93 fiscal year , the majority of
the forfeiture money was set aside to be used towards training.
This money was money the Department had already received and was in
our Forfeiture Account . Since that time, we have received
additional forfeiture money which we are requesting to use for this
project . There is still ample money available in our training
allocated funds to meet our training needs for 92-93 fiscal year.
When the weapons currently carried by the sworn officers of the
Ocoee Police Department were purchased in 1987 , they were at that
time a new generation type weapon being made by Smith and Wesson.
The . 45 caliber Smith and Wesson Model 645 Semi-Automatic weapon
was only produced by Smith and Wesson for one year due to several
different types of defects that developed in the weapon. A re-
design was made and a new weapon was produced and is still in
production .
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Staff Report
Use of Forfeiture Funds for Replacement Firearms
March 11 , 1993
Page 2
Due to the wear and tear of these weapons over the years from usage
by the Police Department , the reliability of these weapons are now
being questioned. Several of the weapons have already had some
problems develop, some have been repaired and some have not . The
expense to repair these weapons could cost more than the weapon is
worth.
The Smith and Wesson Company is offering, to Police Agencies , a
special deal for the purchase of new weapons . The type of weapon
we wish to purchase is the . 40 caliber Smith and Wesson Model 4043 .
The Company is offering to sell the weapons for $380 each and they
are willing to take our old weapons in on trade, giving us $300 per
weapon.
The total cost to purchase the new weapons with leather will be
$14 , 958 . We would receive $7 , 500 for the trade of our current
weapons , which will leave a remaining cost of $7 , 458 .
The new Semi-Automatic weapons will be double action only, not like
the type currently being carried; which are single and double
action . The new weapons will greatly reduce accidental discharge
which could occur when carried in the single action mode - thus
taking some of the liability away from the City.
RECOMMENDATION
It is respectfully recommended that the Honorable Mayor and Board
of City Commissioners approve using $7 , 458 of the forfeiture funds
to purchase the new weapons for the sworn personnel of the Police
Department .
JHB/rmh