Belleville Police make deal and get new, free Glocks for officers

Belleville full-time police officers are getting new Glock Model 17 Gen-4 9 mm, semi-automatic pistols with Trijicon Night Sights and three magazines per weapon to replace their current side arms.
And, it’s not going to cost the city a penny.
Police Chief Hal Berriman explained the deal to the city council at its March 2 meeting. Council members also had a memo from the chief explaining the transaction in detail.
Chief Berriman said presently all sworn members of the Belleville Police Department are armed with H&K USP40 automatic weapons. This is a .40-caliber, semi-automatic pistol, most of which were purchased prior to the year 2000.
Several of these weapons are showing wear and tear, although they are still useable, he said.
Chief Berriman said due to the advancement in weapons and ammunition, many departments have upgraded their weapons, including the FBI, Michigan State Police, and locally Van Buren, Sumpter, Westland and other nearby departments.
In December a representative of Top Gun Shooting Sports of Taylor was asked to come to the Belleville PD and give them a price on the confiscated rifles, shotguns, and handguns that were no longer being held as evidence, in an effort to rid the Property Room of these weapons and acquire needed space.
Previously, he said, weapons that were no longer to be held were taken to the MSP for disposal, but in recent years departments were able to dispose of these weapons through reputable dealers.
Through this process, departments have been able to dispose of weapons while acquiring new weapons in exchange, as well as the trading in the department-issued weapons.
Tom Barlowe of Top Gun has offered $8,000 for the confiscated weapons and buying of the nine present H&K USP40 pistols. In exchange he will sell to the department 12 Glocks for a total of $6,492. This price is the Law Enforcement List Price that all dealers sell for and is considerably cheaper than list price, Berriman said.
With that purchase they would have a balance of $1,508 to buy the proper holsters and other equipment, Berriman said.
“This money would not come out of our budget, nor cost the city/department any additional expenses,” Berriman said.
“It is important that our officers are afforded the best equipment to keep them safe and secure and prevent malfunctions from older and wearing equipment,” he said. “Also, with the department going to the 9 mm, we would have additional savings in the purchasing of ammunition and two officers will be trained as Armorers in the Glock to help keep down maintenance costs.”
Berriman said on Feb. 25 select members of the department did test fire the Glock as well as five other weapons and this weapon was the unanimous choice.
Berriman said they are getting 12 weapons so they will have a few extras for new hires.
Mike Renaud said from the audience that surplus goods are supposed to go to the good of the city budget and not for the police department.
Mayor Kerreen Conley said they are requesting these be sold and others be purchased.
And, it’s the Law Enforcement price, Chief Berriman said. “One price, no matter.”
“The funds received for this would buy guns and the extra would go to the general fund,” Mayor Conley said.
Fire Chief Brian Loranger said the fire department did something similar for old radios.
The council unanimously approved the service weapons purchase.
In other business at the March 2 meeting, the council:
• Held a public hearing on the transfer of $39,204 in 2013 CDBG funds to replace the playscape at Village Park to meet the Americans with Disabilities Act and then unanimously approved the transfer;
• Approved, on a 4-1 vote with Councilwoman Kim Tindall voting no, the closing of Main Street between Third and Fifth streets and at the alley on Roys and Fourth each Monday between 5 and 9 p.m. between June 1 and Sept. 28 for the Bayou’s annual car show and use of the Fourth Street Square for a beer garden for 11 of those car shows. Brian Copsey said his LCC permit allows 12 outdoor beer gardens a year and he wanted to keep one on hold because he gets no rain days. Councilwoman Tindall generally votes against approving use of alcohol on city property, such as the Fourth Street Square;
• Approved use of the Fourth Street Square for a quilt show and fabric sale between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. on July 18, sponsored by the Bayou Grill. It would be a swap meet-type sale, where people bring in their own tables to sell fabric, yarn, and notions they have. The event will be put in a quilt magazine and the cost will be $20-$25, whatever it will cost to cover the magazine ad;
• Removed from the agenda a request for closing High Street for Thunder Rolls in Belleville on May 25 because the person requesting the closing, Kathie Steigerwald, was not present;
• Approved an engagement letter for the 2014/15 annual audit with Alan C. Young & Associates;
• Set two public hearings for March 16 for a proposed transfer of $2,775 in 2012 CDBG funds and a transfer of $5,228 in grant planning and administration 2013 CDBG funds for park improvements at Village Park;
• Heard an update on the Downriver Sewer Agreement, which will be on the agenda of the March 16 meeting for action; and
• Approved accounts payable of $81,384.05 and the following departmental purchases in excess of $500: to Aqua-line, $655 for leak detection; to MERC $700 for a projection study for the police; to MI Power Rodding, $638 for a water main break; to R&R $5,769.55 for repair to fire engine #451, $858.65 for maintenance/inspection of Engine #451, and $1,163.45 for maintenance/inspection #461; and to SLC $1,994.52 for replaced meter.