Why Columbus police are switching their firearms to gun company with local ties
The Columbus Police Department will change its standard-issue firearms to a brand with local ties, CPD announced at Tuesday’s Columbus Council meeting.
The department will switch their standard-issue firearms for officers from the Smith & Wesson M&P 2.0, a 9mm handgun to an unspecified Heckler & Koch (H&K) pistol, according to CPD Deputy Chief Roderick Graham.
“The main reason we decided to switch is H&K is a local-based firearms company,” he said. “They’re right here in Columbus, Georgia. When we need to have a weapon serviced, they’re readily available to service our weapon.”
H&K USA’s headquarters are at 5675 Transport Blvd. in Columbus. H&K’s global headquarters are in Germany. Smith & Wesson is headquartered in Tennessee.
Graham said officers who tested the weapon reported it “was a good fit for their hand, less recoil for some. The weapon allowed them to shoot better.”
He said the department got the new weapons “cost neutral” through turning in their Smith & Wesson M&P’s and seized weapons.
When asked where CPD gets the seized weapons, Graham said, “It can come from weapons that were taken off the street, attempt to locate the owner, can’t locate the owner, owner never reported the weapon stolen, so we just can’t give it to somebody.”
In situations like that, the weapon can be destroyed, according to Graham. Instead of destroying the weapon, CPD can get a court order to have the weapon, which gives the department the opportunity to use the weapon in exchange for the H&K weapons, according to Graham.
CPD expects to make the switch to the new H&K weapons in March or April, Graham said.
New weapon attachments
Graham said the department also acquired optics, flashlights and new holsters for the H&K weapons.
“(The) reason for doing that is we wanted to improve the accuracy of officers in the event that they may need to use their firearms,” Graham said.
The optics will be a red-dot sight, Graham said. Patrol officers and those in CPD’s specialized units will be equipped with optics and flashlights, with those in staff positions possibly not being issued firearms with optics and flashlights, according to Graham.
Graham said CPD’s Smith & Wesson M&P 2.0s don’t have optics, but the department has given officers permission to have a flashlight placed on them.
Officers will have to go through training with the new weapons after they are issued, according to Graham.
“They’re (CPD officers) very excited about having that particular weapon in the event that they need to use a firearm,” Graham said.