WPD seeks more than $250K to replace shotguns with patrol rifles

WILMINGTON,  NC (WWAY-TV) — The Wilmington Police Department is looking to update the type of long-barreled firearm assigned to its officers.

WPD currently issues a twelve gauged shotgun to its officer, in addition to their handgun. WPD is requesting funding from the city to purchase 90 new rifles and accompanying accessories to replace its current shotguns.

Chief of Police Ryan Zuidema spoke on the resolution during a city council agenda briefing on Monday. Zuidema said the department is 30 years behind when law enforcement agencies began transitioning from shotguns to patrol rifles in the nineties.

“We are routinely seeing criminals in this community and across the country who have firepower that exceeds what we have, we need to keep our officers first and foremost safe and need to keep this community safe,” Zuidema said.

WPD has requested more than $250,000 to fund the transition. The resolution will be introduced for a vote during Tuesday’s city council meeting. City Council Member Kevin Spears pushed back on WPD’s request on Monday and said he will be voting in opposition of the resolution during the meeting.

Spears said his opposition is due to the timing of the request and the death of Edilberto Sierra in the officer-involved shooting downtown earlier in March.