Boise Police to carry ARs/Shotguns in Patrol Cars

I just heard from a very reliable source within the City of Boise that over the next couple of years, all Boise Police Department patrol units are to be outfitted with an assault rifle and a shotgun. This absolutely baffles me as Boise, ID is a small-time city with a population of just under 200,000; there is hardly any violent crime to speak of and any gang activity, which seems to be the common justification for providing squad cars with such heavy firepower, is in the next town over. Why is it that these police officers need these heavy-caliberated weapons? What is it that their own pistol cant handle or the SWATteam for gods sakes that they need an assault rifle for?

Christ, this isn't halo3 here. We're talkin quiet-town-livin.

reply to post by NexGenRevolution


Why should that suprise anyone honestly? They do the exact same thing here in the small city I live in, only around 32,000 or so people here. They keep the guns locked up but with ammunition ready if the need arises. It's a changing world and it shouldn't hurt a police department to be ready if the need arises. Sometimes you need a little more range and/or hitting power rather than a simple pistol.
There is always the possibility of a cop having to deal with the kind of criminal that has military surplus armor and a matching helmet. So they would need something that has more penetrating power.

reply to post by NexGenRevolution


That has been pretty standard in every city I have lived in. It's nothing new really. I understand it might be a bit unusual for you and your town to see, but has been normal in a good portion of the cities across the nation for quite a while now. I wouldn't worry too much about it.

I am gonna drop this little dime of info on ya....I live in Florida, I have an AK-47 from Romania. I bought it for 600 bucks LEGALLY. I CAN take it to ANY state I want to. 7.62x39. It CAN and WILL punch through stage 1 and 2 armor.This is one of the major complaints with the gun control lobby. Although MOST weapons used in violent crimes are either stolen or black market. As much as alot of you hate cops and law enforcement in general these people have families and kids and wives just like you. They also put thier pants on the same way you do. The only difference is that they, like our military , are targets for people that have neither the mental capacity nor the clear thinking to be able to be able to rationalize the need for laws. Be glad that the officers in your area can defend themselves against people using armament like described. Just look at the LA shootout and tell me that it couldn't happen where you live. Becasue if you do, you are more foolish than I thought.

Littleton, CO (Columbine HS): Pop. 40,340

Blacksberg, VA (Virginia Tech): Pop. 39,573

Killeen, TX (Luby's Cafeteria - 1991): Pop. 112,434

Nope, anywhere under 200K population is as safe as Mayberry...

Good post RJ . I live in Boise Id and don’t have a problem with this. Far a while the Boise police dept. had a rep for shooting first and asking questions later, but the city put in an ombudsman for citizen complaints and for the most part its worked out fairly well.
As for the extra firepower there has been a couple of different issues in which a gun fight has taken place and 2 to 3 hundred rounds are fired and finally the bad guy gets hit with a lucky round. The way I see it. Even if the rifle ammo is more expensive it is more accurate so they use less and my taxes go down.
So there you go, it’s a safe place to live with low taxes. Doesn’t get any better than that.

i live in a small city of only about 70,000 people and we already have shotguns and ARs for our cops.
And the only time i,ve known them to even take out the ARs is during a standoff where they blocked ofan appartment complex, so its not to surprisingfor your city to do this, though it is kinda surprising that they havn't already.

I was placed in custody a few weeks ago, I live in the Live Free or Die state. I noticed an AR strapped in the front of the car between the passenger and driver on the roof. I asked about it and the officer was very proud of his power, he also mentioned he had a good ole 12 gauge in his trunk. God I love law enforcement


----The End of Innocence

In this day the average Joe can get his hands on a rifle or pistol, so I don't see anything wrong with cops carrying a rifle. Roll time backwards and take a look at all the times when cops had shoot outs with bank robbers armed with a ak47. A pistol long range against a robber in body armor is not as effective as one shot from a long range rifle that still has the velocity to shred you to bits. Cops had to literally run to the local armory gun store and borrow a AR15's to even out the odds. Once you have a rifle especially one scoped, things change drastically. If your a cop your sidearm isn't going to do squat.

I've been to Boise and have had a gun pulled on me within 12 hours of being there. Low crime my ass. A cop should always have more firepower than the competition.

I cant believe a cop would hit the streets without one. For Christ's sake I carry a MSAR STG-556 next to me just going to the store. A pistol should ONLY be used to get to your long gun. Good for Boise, I hope many a bad guy gets a .223 round in the computer and a cop go's home safe.

This isn't exactly news, most police departments are switching out (or supplementing) the shotguns in favor of 5.56mm AR platforms of one variety or another.

When even the most raggy headed dope fiend is able to afford an SKS, you really don't want to go up against him with a shotgun unless he's under 50m (slugs a little more perhaps).

A Colt 16 inch AR with an EOTech would be my personal choice.

Retseh is correct. This is not new news. Since back in the Reagan administration and the Omnibus Crimie Act,the Federal Government has been enroaching slowly but steadily into local law enforcement. Many crimes which were local and state in nature are now under federal jurisdicition. With the advent of Homeland Security Department this connection has solidified. Local Governments are getting aid and financing in bringing their arsenals up to date.
I do not believe the shotgun will be replaced. There are some tasks for which the shotgun is much more suitable than a rifle or pistol. As Retseh correctly stated....they will be switched out or more appropriately ....supplimented ...with other weaponry.

It is a bit ironic to me that the shotgun...the first of the firearms...smoothbore ..is still on the job...centurys later....in spite of all the high tech floating around.

I think that alot of this upgrading is due to the requirements of Homeland Security Department on local police and constabulary. This has been slowly coming since after 9/11/2001.

Thanks,
Orangetom