UAPD to carry automatics
New rifles meant to improve accuracy, reduce response time
By: Tom Knauer
Issue date: 3/7/08 Section: News
If a shooter strides onto campus this summer and starts taking aim, the University of Arizona Police Department intends to have the firepower appropriate to react more quickly and effectively than it could today.
Hence, possibly by June, some officers will be trained to carry automatic rifles capable of accurately hitting targets at greater distances than with the department's standard-issue handgun.
The rifles, which will accompany on-duty officers in their vehicles, will be used only when a situation, like an on-campus shooting, calls for it, said UAPD Chief Anthony Daykin.
"They're not intended as offensive weapons," said Sgt. Eugene Mejia, public information officer for UAPD. "They are to be used defensively, as a response."
UAPD's new patrol-rifle program, spearheaded by Cpl. Jason Brei, is in line with measures being taken at all three of Arizona's state universities, particularly Arizona State University, Daykin said.
Over the next few months, UAPD plans to purchase four AR-15 variant rifles, all Smith and Wesson models, he said.
Each gun will cost a little over $1,000, accounting for the weapon, an optical aiming system and a sling, he said.
Although the program was devised within the last year, the rifles - the most powerful gun to be located on campus - are not a response to high-profile shootings at Northern Illinois University last month and at Virginia Tech last April, he said.
In those and other publicized events, including an October 2002 shooting at the UA's College of Nursing, the shooter typically committed suicide before police arrived on the scene, he said.
"It's really unclear whether having a rifle would have made a difference," he said.
UAPD's rifles are meant to reduce the amount of time it takes for the department to arrive on campus during an emergency, as well as provide more effective response once officers arrive, he said.
If a shooting or similar emergency occurred on campus today, UAPD officers would have only revolvers on hand, Daykin said.
Hence, possibly by June, some officers will be trained to carry automatic rifles capable of accurately hitting targets at greater distances than with the department's standard-issue handgun.
The rifles, which will accompany on-duty officers in their vehicles, will be used only when a situation, like an on-campus shooting, calls for it, said UAPD Chief Anthony Daykin.
"They're not intended as offensive weapons," said Sgt. Eugene Mejia, public information officer for UAPD. "They are to be used defensively, as a response."
UAPD's new patrol-rifle program, spearheaded by Cpl. Jason Brei, is in line with measures being taken at all three of Arizona's state universities, particularly Arizona State University, Daykin said.
Over the next few months, UAPD plans to purchase four AR-15 variant rifles, all Smith and Wesson models, he said.
Each gun will cost a little over $1,000, accounting for the weapon, an optical aiming system and a sling, he said.
Although the program was devised within the last year, the rifles - the most powerful gun to be located on campus - are not a response to high-profile shootings at Northern Illinois University last month and at Virginia Tech last April, he said.
In those and other publicized events, including an October 2002 shooting at the UA's College of Nursing, the shooter typically committed suicide before police arrived on the scene, he said.
"It's really unclear whether having a rifle would have made a difference," he said.
UAPD's rifles are meant to reduce the amount of time it takes for the department to arrive on campus during an emergency, as well as provide more effective response once officers arrive, he said.
If a shooting or similar emergency occurred on campus today, UAPD officers would have only revolvers on hand, Daykin said.
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Viewing Comments 1 - 7 of 7
Pete S.
posted 3/07/08 @ 11:16 AM MST
I'm a pro-gun guy (perhaps you've seen my previous letters to the editor?), but this seems like a waste of money and time.
In all the incidents of violence on educational campuses in the past few decades, the police showed up long after the situation was over. (Continued…)
Ben Kalafut
posted 3/07/08 @ 11:25 AM MST
This is flat-out ridiculous. Has there been a time when UAPD needed to shoot somebody from over 20 yards, but couldn't? It takes considerable mental gymnastics just to envision an appropriate scenario. (Continued…)
L B
posted 3/07/08 @ 9:04 PM MST
This article was very poorly written by someone who obviously knows NOTHING about guns. Only certain models of the AR-15 are automatic (automatic = rapid fire with one pull of the trigger). (Continued…)
Chuck B.
posted 3/08/08 @ 9:49 AM MST
Better armed police is usually a good idea because the worst scenario is the the crime perpetrater is better armed than the police.
That being true, it has little to do with the reasoning behind this police chief's decision. (Continued…)
Patrick
posted 3/08/08 @ 10:58 AM MST
What a waste of time, money and effort. Why do'nt these guys try efforts that may actually save lives? Rifles aren't going to make the cops' response times any quicker. (Continued…)
Daniel Greenberg
posted 3/09/08 @ 1:33 AM MST
Well, the terminology is simply misleading, although media folks pretending they know what they're writing about but being oblivious to firearm information is nothing new. (Continued…)
benEzra
posted 3/18/08 @ 1:36 PM MST
This is a good thing, IMO, and four small-caliber rifles is not a huge expenditure.
A lot of police departments nationwide have been equipping officers with civilian rifles like the AR-15 for quite some time, because they are considerably safer for bystanders than the traditional 12-gauge police shotgun and offer considerably greater precision (even at close to moderate range) than a handgun. (Continued…)
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