Fillmore set to purchase four handguns for police department

FILLMORE -- Police officers in Fillmore will soon no longer have to provide their own fire-arms.

On Thursday, Marshal Darrel Bunten told town council members that there had been no budget for firearms provided by the town since he took office. However, he has been setting money aside to rectify the situation.

"God forbid anything happen," Bunten said, "but if there were a police action shooting, they'd confiscate the guns of all the officers involved and we'd be without anything."

Bunten advised the council that he had priced four guns and tac lights through K&B Firearms, with a total bill of $2,280.

This would provide one firearm each for Bunten, his two deputies and a spare.

There is enough money in the department budget, it is simply a matter of transfers from the proper accounts.

Councilmen Curt Leonard and Alan Jones approved the purchase. Tami Van Rensselaer was not present Thursday.

In addition to the purchase of the guns, Bunten advised the council that the town should begin setting aside $3,000 annually to purchase ammunition.