Swiped from the AJC
Gangs and drug traffickers have ditched their pistols for assault rifles and other military-style firearms, leaving police outgunned.
To beef up its arsenal, DeKalb County Police is trading in its 9 mm handguns for .40-caliber weapons, which are more effective.
Last week, the county commission approved the purchase of 1,200 Smith & Wesson .40-caliber handguns to replace the force’s Berettas....
...The $207,475 contract will pay for 1,200 guns, holsters and magazines to outfit the department.
Atlanta Police officers also carry .40-caliber Smith & Wesson guns. The department is considering arming its force with assault rifles, but is still doing research on the benefits of the weapons, said Officer Otis Redmond, a police spokesman.
DeKalb’s SWAT team, which is armed with MP5, 9 mm submachine guns, is usually called out any time officers encounter suspects with high-caliber weapons.
Patrol officers, however, have the option of increasing their firepower.
DeKalb allows an officer to purchase his or her own AR-15, a semi-automatic rifle similar to an M16. The officer can carry it on duty only after passing a specific 40-hour training class and qualifying at the county’s range.
Yep...Dekalb Police are going to be getting more, bigger guns soon. This, for a county that killed more people than the LAPD and NYPD combined just two years ago. I mean, in my experiences, all I ever see and hear of is Dekalb police harassing and shooting folks that aren't even a threat to anybody. I swear, every time a Dekalb Police officer pulls me over for making a rolling stop or not having my seat belt on...I'm halfway fearful for my life. What you ya'll make of this?
this soooo worries me! DeKalb gained infamy because of their brutal police and their big ass patrol cars. recently i noticed that squad cars have dekalbpolice.COM on the back as if to imply they operate like a COMPANY. Fulton and Cobb both have domains ending in .org and .gov, respectively. hmmmmm...
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