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Gun auction nets $15,000 toward new bulletproof vests


By STEVEN THOMAS
Staff Reporter

More than 250 handguns and long guns confiscated in criminal cases over the past several years in the city were auctioned to federally licensed dealers last month and the proceeds will be used to purchase bulletproof vests for police.

Head Auction auctioned the guns at its facility at 289-A Commerce Park Dr., Ridgeland.

Police Chief Dickie Sistrunk submitted a list of surplus firearms to the Mayor and Board of Aldermen at a Febuary meeting. While most were auctioned, many were destroyed for various reasons including no visible serial numbers, the chief said.

Three Glock .40 handguns, similar to those currently used by police officers, were added to the department's inventory.

Mayor James A. Young voiced concern that certain firearms, such as automatic weapons and high-powered rifles, should not be allowed back on the streets.

"We took them off the streets from drug dealers and people who don't care for life," Young said. "I'd rather we cut them up than put them back on the streets."

Chief Sistrunk assured the board that no automatic weapons or sawed off shotguns would be placed on the auction.

He said that high power rifles and shotguns were not the weapons of choice for criminals but used mostly by hunters.

Alderman Cecil Nichols agreed, noting that the department had plenty of surplus shotguns and that they needed to be disposed of properly.

Many of the guns stemmed from drug cases while others were seized after being discharged inside the city limits, the police chief said. Some of the guns have been in the police vault for over 20 years.

The auction brought in just under $15,000, for the police department, with 10 percent going to Head Auction. According to Sistrunk, there were a number of small guns that were not in the best condition so they sold for a lot less.

Sistrunk told the board that proceeds from the auction would be used to purchase new bulletproof vests, a requirement under the law.

The police department has an ongoing need for bulletproof vests, Sistrunk said, because they only have a five-year lifespan. After that, they lose effectiveness, he said.

"The vests will hopefully save one of my officer's lives," Sistrunk said.

William Head, a Philadelphia native, oversaw the auction.

He told aldermen at the Feb. 16 meeting that he had conducted similar auctions for the state Bureau of Narcotics, the Internal Revenue Service and the U. S. Marshal Service.

We only sell to federally licensed firearms dealers, he said.

Any dealer without a license was not allowed to attend the auction, Head said.

Before a dealer can resale one of the guns, the law requires him to perform a background check on any perspective buyer, he said.



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