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Bonners Ferry Police Department
upgrades duty weapons |
July 30, 2014 |
by Michael Meier, Boundary
County Public Information Officer
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Based largely on complaints from law enforcement
agencies across the nation for maintenance
problems with handguns chambered in the .40 S&W
caliber, the Bonners Ferry Police Department is
changing to brand new 4th generation Glock Model
21’s in the venerable .45 auto caliber.
“Shortly after I took over as police chief, I
inspected one department owned pistol in .40 S&W
and found it had a cracked barrel. Even though I
could just replace the barrel, it is not worth
taking chances with the lives of my police
officers. Additionally, there are few calibers
that rival the .45 auto for reliability and
stopping power. Police Officers also have to be
concerned with over-penetration if they have to
use their weapons. The .45 is a big slow bullet
that stops what it hits but isn’t so powerful as
to jeopardize innocent civilians,” said Chief
Robert Boone.
Many police and sheriff’s departments throughout
the country have reported everything from
pistols exploding to inaccuracy issues with the
.40 S&W round. The Glock Model 22’s that Bonners
Ferry Police Officers were carrying have a
problem known as “unsupported chambers” that the
Glock firearms company has been attempting to
rectify. This issue has not been experienced in
any of the other Glock pistols.
The department defrayed the cost of the new
pistols by trading the old weapons into a law
enforcement affiliated dealer in Spokane,
Washington and by trading old surplus department
equipment that was not being used. |
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