(LA) Opelousas PD Buys Machine Gun

[Drizzt]

Opelousas PD Buys Machine Gun


March 31, 2003
Reported by Erica Young

Opelousas police don't want to be out-gunned, so they've bought a machine gun which can be mounted on the department's armored personnel carrier. The department is the first in the state to buy the weapon, recently made legal for police by the Homeland Security Act.

Opelousas was prompted by incidents in other cities, like the gunfight last month in which five Alexandria police officers were shot, two of them fatally.

The department's new machine gun, an M-2-4-9 squad automatic weapon, can put out 850 rounds a minute. The department bought a 200-round belt, a 100-round magazine and a replacement barrel to go with the gun.

Captain Mark LeBlanc hopes the weapon will never be used in anger. He believes just the knowledge that his department has it will act as a deterrent.

http://www.kplctv.com/Global/story.asp?S=1208293&nav=0nqxEwlf

 

[MN_Strelok]

Wow. I'm not even going to question the perceived need for city cops to have a LMG. Instead I'll focus on this minor oversight:

The department's new machine gun, an M-2-4-9 squad automatic weapon, can put out 850 rounds a minute. The department bought a 200-round belt, a 100-round magazine and a replacement barrel to go with the gun.

Someone needs to work on his basic math skills. And with less than 30 seconds of sustained fire, why do they need a second barrel?

BTW, what's a 100 round SAW mag? Is that a C-Mag or something?

 

[QuarterBoreGunner]

"Do you know why I pulled you over Sir?"

"uhm..no officer, was I speeding?"

"Sir, you have a tail light out?"

"A tail light? You pulled me over for a tail light?"

"Sir...STOP RESISTING!"

"What? ...resisting? I just can't believe you pulled..."

"That's it LIGHT HIM UP BOYS!"

BupBupBupBupBupBupBupBupBupBupBupBupBupBupBupBupBupBupBupBupBupBupBupBupBupBupbup!!!!

(30 seconds later) Srgt? He's still movin'? Uhm can we get another belt?

 

[Kristofer]

The department is the first in the state to buy the weapon, recently made legal for police by the Homeland Security Act.

I'm scared.

 

[Tommy Gunn]

The Dept would do better to issue out AR15 rifles and then spend money on ammunition and range time. Maybe some HK MP5's or even Thompsen SMG's from Auto-Ordinace for dealing with any Dillinger wannabe's.

Perhaps the armored car and LMG would be good to have on hand in case of another Hurricane Hugo where mobs of looters descended on the damaged suburbs in trucks and vans.

 

[Wildalaska]

Hey the Chief and the boys wanted to play..so what...your tax dollars pay for his toys!!!

You should see the toys the Police Agencies in Alaska get to play with that dealers pay for....tons of post samples floating around...

Including one that should be arriving shortly and will be the subject of a test report for you, the eager audience!

WildcanyousayfactorycoltAlaska

 

[SDC]

This is the FN MAG GPMG, so the "100 round magazine" is actually going to be a belt carrier box, not an actual magazine. If this wasn't so scary, it'd be funny.

 

[shermacman]

This is so ridiculous it simply boggles the mind. I am not an international terrorism expert, nor do I play one on TV, but what possible scenario justifies a squad gun? The amount of money involved, the wasted time training, the amount of time and resources that are being diverted from real problems. This is just feel good self-fondling.
Not that I wouldn't mind running a few rounds through it on community awareness day...!

 

[Jmurman]

hmmmm.police depts with LMG's

What is the "percieved need?"

 

[Bravo11]

Check out their website:
http://www.opelousaspd.com/
Watch the photos of the Chief cycle thru.
Doesn't the photo in desert camo and beret look
familiar.
Check it out

 

[shermacman]

Nice work megcatia!
Oh...
My...
God...!

 

[buzz_knox]

The M249 is the 5.56mm SAW. The M240 is the FN GPMG. The SAW has been made available to LE agencies by FN, but I don't believe the GFPM has. So, something is still screwy about the article.

 

[Greg L]

With all the gold braid on that uniform he looks like a South American tin pot dictator. Perhaps that is what he is trying to do in OUR south America.

Greg

 

[MJRW]

What were those 5 officers shot with? If it was anything less than a full auto rifle, they would be better off with more range time. Sending 200 rounds at a person in 15 seconds isn't going to do a damn bit of good if you couldn't even hit the mall they are standing in front of.

 

[Nightfall]

This is beyond ridiculous. They need an M249 for their APC... WHY?! What massive urban conflict do you want to be ready for? What possible police job requires a Squad Automatic Weapon? Laying down cover fire for the troops as they raid a house or something? Area suppression fire? If we don't need assault rifles... why do the police need a belt fed machine gun on an APC? Groups of terrorists? But I thought it was silly to want an assault rifle for such situations? Oh, I forgot, I'm just a serf. Forgive me, my lord.

I'm all for giving officers an M16A2 or M4 to have in the trunk, it seems prudent. Train them on it well, you've got a much more effective defense then a bunch of half trained persons with 9mms.

Not to be paranoid... but jeez, why is the gov't so intent on arming it's police forces with military combat hardware, while taking away all the effective combat weapons from citizens? Hmm...

 

[JW2]

http://www.opelousaspd.com/Strike Force Cont.htm

I like the top right picture of the fellas in the pool...

Especially the one who has the handgun pointed at the back of the other guys head..

 

[Bravo11]

Same page--scroll down and check out the URBAN ASSAULT VEHICLE next the APC

 

[shermacman]

Ah, the crystal clear waters of Louisiana!...if this is their idea of real life situations! No mud, no gators, no copperheads, just a lovely swim in the chlorinated beauty of a community pool! "Hey, kid, no running! Stay off of the lap lane ropes or I'll blow you out of yer Speedos with my waterproof Glock!" Guess the ATV with the SAW gun will be driving around the school parking lot lookin to take out teenage cigarette smokers: "Smoking kills, punk!"

 

[JW2]

They look like a buncha commando wannabes who are outside "playing"... They really need a SAW when they can't even properly handle their sidearms.

Boy am I glad I don't live in this town.

 

[dev_null]

Not to mention, do you have any idea how small that town is? Yeah, that's exactly where Al-Qaeda figures to make their next big play... NOT!

 

[MJRW]

This city of 20,000 people needs that? It seems that with their raw numbers of crime they simply need more cops:

2000 statistics

185 violent crimes: 0 murders, 14 rapes, 42 robberies, and 129 aggravated assaults

1270 property crimes

We are talking 4 crimes a day here. Coincidentally, there are only 4 patrolling officers at most. I wonder what the ratio of sworn officers to citizens is in this town.

 

[JW2]

I was just talking to my boss today about something she witnessed at a large event this weekend. Security at the event apparently posessed some sort of SMG (She's definately not a gun person, so I couldn't figure out exactly what it was). I brought up the point that carrying this kinda firepower really isn't gonna stop some kind of Al-Qaeda type attack, not to mention that this took place in Camden, SC, which probably isn't high on the target list. All this does is reinforce the image that you should be terrified to go out in public. :banghead:

 

[RustyHammer]

Come on guys, LE needs toys too! Just one of the "perks".

 

[Kristofer]

Even the NYPD would never have to engage a force big enough to merit a belt fed machine gun. If thier city has that kind of problem, it's time to call in the National Guard. And the worst part is that it was probably federal money, not city funds that paid for it.

 

[Pilgrim]

Well, they certainly have the toys. The question remains is whether they will ever learn how to use it.

When the 200 round belt runs out, will they be able to fix a bayonet to the gun?