By Krystal Smalley
ksmalley@wbcowqel.com
The Bucyrus Police Department will soon be replacing its well-used firearms.
At Monday’s Bucyrus City Council Finance Committee meeting, Auditor Joyce Schifer requested that $25,000 be appropriated from the Safety Forces levy revenues to replace the officers’ guns and rifles.
Bucyrus Police Chief Dave Koepke said the firearms are 14-years-old and have outlived their expected lifespan. All of the firearms within the department, with the exception of a number of rifles that have been changed periodically, will be replaced. The shotguns and rifles will be purchased from Baker Brothers while the pistols will be purchased from Vance Outdoors Inc.
Schifer said part of the money used to purchase the firearms will come back to the department. Some of the old equipment will be traded in while officers will also have the chance to purchase their old equipment.
The Finance Committee will be seeking legislation at the next City Council meeting for the $25,000 appropriation.
Finance Committee member John Walker asked Koepke how well the police department was doing on outfitting its officers with bullet-proof vests.
Koepke informed the committee that the department was up-to-date on the vests.
“Everybody has a new vest as of 2013,” Koepke said. He added that all new officers will also receive a new vest.
The police department also has enough ammunition to get through the year.
Koepke announced that they are working on a date to schedule a swearing-in for a new police officer.