Retiring deputies can buy their guns for a buck

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MicroBalrog

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Retiring deputies can buy their guns for a buck

TUCSON Retiring Pima County sheriff's deputies can now buy their department-issued guns for one dollar.
The program approved by county supervisors yesterday is similar to one already in place at the Arizona Department of Public Safety and the Phoenix police. Tuscon police don't have the same option.

Deputies with 20 years service can buy their pistols or shotguns for just a buck. Before, they had to pay the replacement cost, 427 dollars for a handgun and 359 dollars for a shotgun.

Copyright 2005 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
 
Wonder how many will end up "on the street" after their new owners sell them.

This very thing happened in NEW YORK when the DEC police went to 10mm and sold the old guns to the officers.
 
Back in WWI, american soldiers were allowed to keep their duty weapon when they returned home. I don't see why not do the same with cops.
 
"Many agencies gift duty weapons to retirees. Nothing really new about this practice."

I would imagine, also, that the agencies depreciate the value of the gun to zero over the course of a few years, so selling it for an amount equal to its actual worth would probably present an accounting headache. Assuming, of course, that police agencies have to file tax returns... I *guess* they do, but I don't really know...

Tim
 
Seems an appropriate thing to do. That gun of theirs has a lot of history and memories. Why don't they just give them their gun, though? I don't understand the $1 thing. Is this just for kicks or are they required by some law to charge the officers some kind of dollar figure for the weapon?

Sometimes when I help a friend out on his vehicle, rebuilding an engine or doing body work, I'll charge $1 or some incredibly small amount like that just as a joke. I'm not saying a dollar is a big deal at all. Just wondering if they are required to collect some sort of money for the weapon, or if they're doing this for the same reason I do it.
 
Governmental agencies don't have to worry about depreciation, etc., as they don't pay taxes. That's why you can transfer a pre-86 f.a. weapon from a l.e. agency to a "civilian" with no transfer tax due.
 
It might be for record keeping...

Recently, I was at a store and was eyeing something. One of the owners (who's a friend) said it was mine... On checkout, he charged me a cent for the item so it'd be in his records.

Wolfe.
 
governmental agencies do have to worry about depreciation. they dont pay taxes but they do have to replace equipment. In the military we have GSA vehicles for some departments to use. There are rules about the mileage per month you are allowed to put on them. increased mileage and wear and tear are going to decrease the resale value. Same with a weapon if a guy has it for 20 years the department may be lucky to get $50.00 out of it depending on the wear and tear by selling it as one instead of a batch. Plus you have to add the man hours and paperwork it may take to sell a police revolver. There is sometimes just as much redtape to sell a single government item as a lot of them. so by the time you get through selling it to a buyer for $50.00 you may have $70.00 of administrative and labor costs tied up in selling it.

so the taxpayers get soaked for $20.....

why spend a $100 to recover $2.00....lol
 
most government agencies sell stuff by bids....and unless they have a gun specialist on retainer they probably would not have the slightest idea of what one is worth.
 
wolfe,

"It might be for record keeping..."


Good point. I didn't think of that. Could just be for record keeping so they know where the guns went.
 
Similar practice here - when the old guns are traded in, the department gets a competative bid on them from three or four dealers in the area. The officers, who want to, may purchase thier own weapon for a buck more than the dealer offered. The dealer then gets the rest of the guns. Money is used to finace newer guns...

Gift for retirees... Does anyone ever really make to it retirement age as a cop anymore? I wouldn't know. :(
 
Is this just for kicks or are they required by some law to charge the officers some kind of dollar figure for the weapon?
Click to expand...

My guess would be that it has to have a dollar value to be a legal transaction. When I got my truck for free, I still had to list it as being sold for $1.
 
There has to be a fee involved in the transfer of property, to avoid the appearance of theft in office, misappropriation or any form of corruption.
 
My guess is so the agency can prove it belongs to the retiree, in case there is some liability issue that comes up thereafter. Lawyers and all, y'know.
 
I think to make it total legal...... (1$)

I think it is a great idea for a few reasons....... as stated by other folks.... The memory of the duty weapon and the officer go hand and hand.......

Would you feel all warm and fuzzy to be a new LEO and get a duty weapon that might well have been in service for 12-15 maybe more years...... ? No matter how well it was taken care of it is a very used firearm. I would think a new officer should get new gear....... It makes him or her feel like he is working with a department that cares enough to outfit them with the best and new equipment. I would think that goes along with an officer's vest as well. Seems like a very personal thing. It also gives the buying powers of the dept. the incentive to upgrade to new models if so desired. I can think of no reason that this program is bad....... The idea that the retired officer would sell it to someone and it would end up out on the street......that sounds like the most liberal and anti gun plug I have read here in a while..... ;) I think most lawmen and women are a little above that in general...... well, all that have or do work with me anyhow....... :)
 
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