Officers in Monroe County will now be carrying new 9mm Glock pistols.
“Everything matters, your rounds matter, your mindset matters, there's a lot of things to take into account at a click of a button,” said Lieutenant Lawson Bittick.
The officers at the Monroe County Sheriff's Office are training with about 100 of their new firearms. They were purchased for about $20,000 using drug seizure funds, not tax money. “The ultimate goal is to increase the accuracy and decrease the cost to the taxpayer,” said Lt. Bittick.
Monroe County’s Firearms Instructor Sam Leggett says there are a few similarities between the two guns,.“It fits in the same holster, the trigger is the same, the sighting system is the same,” said Leggett.
Leggett says the 9mm is faster, lighter, and cheaper than the 40 caliber Glock they used before. The switch from the 40 caliber bullet to the 9mm bullet will end up saving Monroe County taxpayers about $600 a year, but there is an additional benefit. The GBI, FBI, and surrounding counties like Macon-Bibb County are all using 9mm bullets now.
Leggett says the change in weapons will help them work together. “If I have to pick up a gun off of a fallen officer because mine has malfunctioned, then I am familiar with it. I know how it works and my equipment will work with his equipment,” said Leggett.
Leggett says that Monroe County is following a national trend to make sure officers are equipped with faster and lighter guns that can hold more ammo.
Lt. Bittick says that the guns were sold to a federally-licensed firearms dealer, but so far, all of the officers have bought back their weapons for $200+ each.