The Wichita Police department will buy 36 powerful rifles to better equip patrol officers at a time when police say they’re facing more well-armed criminals.
Wichita City Council members this morning voted unanimously to spend about $64,000 in federal grant money on Colt LE6944 rifles, 50,000 rounds of training ammunition, 4,000 rounds of duty ammunition and other accessories.
Police Chief Norman Williams said the city now has rifles that are reserved for the department’s 20 SWAT team members. The SWAT team is comprised of a variety of officers and detectives, and they have their rifles available during their normal daily duties.
Williams told council members that incidents in Wichita and across the country show the rifles can help police in situations where criminals have rifles or are at long ranges where handguns prove inaccurate.