BROWNSTOWN
Going from .45-caliber handguns to 9mm will result in a money savings in ammunition for the Brownstown Police Department.
Chief Tom Hanner recently talked to the Brownstown Town Council about trading in the department’s 20 Glock handguns for 17 SIG Sauer handguns.
After receiving a quote from Acme Sports Inc. of Seymour, Hanner learned the swap would result in a $159 balance due, which might come from the law enforcement fund. Hanner said he never has used any money from that fund during his tenure as chief.
It could wind up being an even trade, however.
“I still have surplus items to trade in that are not factored in this. We will have to see what kind of condition they are in. We have a lot of older (magazines) and stuff like that,” Hanner said. “I’m doing everything I can to make that balance that may be due closer to zero.”
Hanner said he had put off looking into trading firearms and ammunition to see if prices went down on .45 ammunition.
Since there hasn’t been a decrease, he sought firearm trade-in quotes and found a good deal and also received prices for ammunition.
Acme Sports quoted a case of one type of 9mm ammunition for $268.60. Hanner said .45 ammunition runs about $390 per case.
Council member Bethany Brewster asked Hanner if he felt comfortable about switching to a less-powerful handgun.
“I’m going to be honest with you, I’ve always said I would never consider it,” he said. “But just this year, the FBI released their study, they are going back to the 9. With newer projectiles that are out now, I don’t feel we’re going to handicap our officers in any way. When I spoke with the Seymour police chief and other officers, the benefits outweigh the cons on making this change.”
If the department continued using .45 ammunition, it would require spending several thousand dollars a year, Hanner said.
“My continuing education fund will not sustain that,” he said, noting that ammunition purchases come from that fund because it’s used for training.
“If I make an order this year, I’m looking at a thousand dollars difference. That’s huge,” he said. “If local supplies dry up and I have to start searching online, the price goes up. Some of it’s anywhere from $100 higher for a case to $500 higher a case. That can range from $1,000, $2,000 to over a five year-period $10,000.”
The department also plans to trade in holsters and will receive credits toward new ones.