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Equipped to serve
Jemison Police Department receives 10 semi-automatic rifles
Published Sunday, September 21, 2008
Photo by Scott Mims
Serious ammo: This .223/5.56 mm shell can penetrate the glass and sheet metal on an automobile and remain effective on the other side.
The Jemison Police Department received $7,460 to purchase 10 AR-15 patrol rifles as part of a program dubbed Operation Rolling Thunder.
Sen. Hank Erwin visited the city Friday to officially present the rifles, which will require no match from the city.
“This is just another tool the city can use to help protect the citizens of Chilton County,” Police Chief Brian Stilwell said. “A department our size couldn’t justify purchasing something like this on our own, so this grant was a great help to us.”
All JPD officers are certified in active shooter training, and all officers will undergo additional training for the rifles, Stilwell said. Firearms instructor Keith Crosby will administer the training.
The rifles could come in handy in various situations including school shooter incidents and hostage standoffs. Such weapons are required to be worn by officers standing post in disaster areas like New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina.
The ammunition consists of .223/5.56 mm shells capable of penetrating automobile glass and sheet metal while remaining effective.
“The times they would have to be used would be very few, but you never know,” Stilwell said.
Operating Rolling Thunder is a joint venture between Sen. Hank Erwin’s office and the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs. The project has been in the works for over a year.
“The idea is to make patrol cars capable and ready for anything,” Erwin said.
Jemison Mayor Eddie Reed expressed thanks to Reed on behalf of the city.
“His office has been a tremendous help to the City of Jemison in providing grants and other resources for the city,” Reed said. “Renee Powers (of Erwin’s office) has also been there for us. This help goes back to the railroad and other things we have been involved with.”
–Scott Mims can be reached at scott.mims@clantonadvertiser.com.
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Comments
Posted by lifestyle (anonymous) on September 21, 2008 at 7:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)
This is the biggest waste of tax payer money. A shotgun in a patrol car is certainly adquate enough for Jemison Alabama. Let's face it. It is not like there is bank robberies and thugs shooting at the police everyday in Jemison.
Posted by free1 (anonymous) on September 21, 2008 at 11:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)
People who can't see in to the future should not comment on things that they are not educated about. The J.P.D. might need these weapons to protect you or someone you know. But on the other hand a shotgun has a very short range and when thugs are using AK-47s it's just common sense to try to match them or out gun them. If it's such a waste strap on a gun and badge and show us how it's done the Andy and Barney way.
Posted by rogerware (anonymous) on September 22, 2008 at 6:50 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Apparently the blogger who suggested this purchase is a waste of money has very limited knowledge of weapons and their uses. I agree 100% with the blogger who suggests these weapons might save your life or someone you know. Kudos to Sen Erwin and his vision to ensure law enforcement has the proper weapons to get the job done.
Posted by getbizi (anonymous) on September 22, 2008 at 11:03 a.m. (Suggest removal)
That is true. Shotguns are good short-range weapons. They aren't very effective beyond 100 yards.
Posted by NoSugar (anonymous) on September 22, 2008 at 1:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)
"lifestyle" obviously lives in ignorance and denial. We do live in a county that has serious crimes, let us not forget the senseless murder of a very public business woman. No to mention we have a major interstate where there have been many police chases and drug busts running through our county. The mentality of "it wont happen here" is so old and ignorant. We should also keep in mind that most school shootings have taken place in relatively small towns. Our county needs all the help it can get to be prepared and trained for any possible criminal act.
Posted by lifestyle (anonymous) on September 22, 2008 at 10:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The murder of the prominent business woman did not involve an ak47, neither has any of the other crimes in Chilton county. The money could be better used. Let's face it. Our nation is in recession and this is one of the reasons. Poor government spending. Big government with no results. Chief Henderson at CPD takes the best approach to crime in Clanton. That is the old fashioned way. Community policing. Kudos to the chief. He don't need all that high tech equipment to get positive results. So as a retired law enforcement officer now i have educated you.
Posted by A4RealAUTiger (anonymous) on September 22, 2008 at 10:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I must agree with lifestyle in this instance. Taxpayers dollars are much deserved to be spent elsewhere. I think the Sheriff's Dept as well as some of these small community towns try to be too high tech and try to hard to be a big city or county. Chilton county does not need anything more than a shotgun and pistol for it's officers to carry at all times. I agree that we do live in changing times but we are not Atlanta or NYC. I have to say that the city of clanton runs a nice department. They seem to use taxpayer dollars with some sense not complete waste. Most of the people in this county are old fashioned and that way has worked for years so let's keep it up!!!
Posted by NoSugar (anonymous) on September 23, 2008 at 9:17 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I was not suggesting the woman was killed with an AK47, only that we do often have horrible crimes in Chilton County, and crimes such as this one could have also turned into a hostage situation. I hope these weapons are never used by law enforcement but if my loved ones are being held hostage or caught in a situation where they could encounter crossfire I want the officers to have everything they can possibly need to protect themselves and others. It only takes one incident for this grant to prove its worth. Any life is worth $7500. I have nothing against our old-fashioned lifestyle in this county, as a matter of fact I love it, but it is time for some progressive and proactive thinking to protect our way of life. Most of the current leadership in this county only wants to be reactive when a problem hits them in the face, often this is too late, especially when we are talking about the protection of life and property.
Posted by THORSBYishome (anonymous) on September 23, 2008 at 9:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)
You know computers are much more expensive than pens and paper but they are the way of the future.
ALL of the police officers in this county deserve proper equipment, sitting back and wishing you had it when you needed it once it's too late is a sad situation. I'm glad they got this and hope that all of the departments will be able to do the same, they certainly DESERVE to have all of the protection that is out there. After all these officer are protecting all of us with their lives, I think it's the least that we can do.
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