Now that im a Police Officer, what can I buy?

[SharpsDressedMan]

One very interesting thing you can buy is small, foreign auto pistols that do not pass the GCA-68 size ban. Originally, Walther PPK sized weapons, or smaller, were banned from import for general sales. Walther came up with the PPK/s to get around the ban (it was slightly larger than the PPK). LE officers can order and purchase any small automatic made overseas (like the little Glock .380, or cute little .22 Autos like the Walther TPH.) The TPH was made stateside for awhile in stainless, but many regard the German made blued one to be far superior. I believe LE's can also individually purchase some restricted import semi-auto rifles. A call to BATF might even find a list of such weapons that are legal for LE's to purchase. Automatic knives are another item that the feds have provisions for for LE's.

 

[BullfrogKen]

The only thing I'll add that hasn't been discussed here yet is that some officers who shot high volumes itemize and deduct the cost of ammunition on their taxes. Training can be argued as a work-related expense not reimbursed by your employer.

The IRS guidlines on training aren't specific enough to differentiate between recreational shooting and job-related training, so some consider all their shooting activites are related to maintaining their job-required shooting skills as an officer and deduct it.

 

[archigos]

If you were in NY, you could buy non-low-capacity magazines.

 

[Hani Pasha]

If you're in NJ, you may have an easier time to get an "assault weapons" license than the rest of us, but I don't remember the particulars of the law. Here's a link, if you're curious, to the NRA's page on NJ gun laws.

http://www.nraila.org/statelawpdfs/NJSL.pdf

 

[Gunman21]

Thanks

Well that's not what I was hoping to hear but it is what I expected. Whats fair is fair even if I don't like it. I feel better knowing certain LEO's can't easily bring MGs to the range anyway. I knew I would be stepping in hot water by asking this question but I'm a strait forward guy and ask strait forward questions to get strait answers. Thank you to the folks who gave me that. By the way I only get half off at Subway, I'll have to make it up at Duncan and Krispy!

 

[Coronach]

I think this has been explained already, but be a police officer doesn't allow you to purchase anything that a normal citizen cannot purchase, unless your state has some restrictions that most other states don't have. It certainly won't allow you to purchase anything NFA. Your agency may well purchase a machine gun, SBR or SBS and assign it to you, but it belongs to them, not you. They can take it away at will, and when you quit, it goes back to their armory. No, there are no exceptions. The ATF has no sense of humor about such things.

You may be eligible for carry without a permit, depending on the specifics of the law in your state. I'm sure your department will train you about what you can and can't do in that regard. If they don't have a policy about you carrying concealed and it is never mentioned in training, I am 99.9999999999999999999999999% certain that you can't. So don't. Period.

You probably will be eligible for department or LE discounts on firearms and associated gear, but that will be up to the individual retailer. A word of advice? Don't be afraid to ask for discounts in areas where you should get a discount for your work. Lawn care suppliers offer discounts on seed and fertilizer to lawn care businesses. Home Depot offers discounts to contractors. This is no different. HOWEVER, don't be "that guy" asking for discounts at restaurants and other businesses. If you're offered a discount, be thankful and appreciative, but don't go trolling for free crap. If you go to a restaurant where cops "always" get a discount, have enough money to cover the full bill, and have some grace if you don't get "your" discount. Pay your bill, press on. Everyone else in the restaurant is paying the full tab, don't disgrace yourself, your agency, and the rest of us by asking for something for nothing. The local coffee shop never charges me for my nightly cup o' coffee, but you know? I always have a fiver in the back of my notepad wallet in case I am charged, and if I have spare cash I make sure I drop something in the tip jar...the baristas are working, too.

Be safe and do the right thing.

Mike

 

[John Parker]

By the way I only get half off at Subway

Better yet, why don't you keep track of all your 'savings' and contribute them to a charity?

 

[twofifty]

Spending on guns and gear will not make you a better LEO.
Spending your money on training and practice ammo will.

 

[GRIZ22]

My intuition tells me that only the department itself could buy weapons.

If we're talking NFA weapons you get no breaks over what everyone else has to do.

If you're in NJ, you may have an easier time to get an "assault weapons" license than the rest of us,

Assault Weapons Permits in NJ only exist as words written in the law. The process to get one is the same as a full auto weapon and you have to demonstrate to a judge how the public safety is served by you having one. NJ LEOs that are allowed to use personal long guns on the job just buy a civilian legal one as the gun would have to go when they left their job. They can possess magazines over 15 rds though.

You get no exemption on FET on firearms for individual purchase however the agency does.

Coronach is giving very good advice.

 

[Grey_Mana]

You can buy a copy of Windows Office Professional for just $10, for home use only on one computer. It is a deal Microsoft offers to all government employees, to try to enhance productivity of government employees.
http://www.microsoft.com/industry/government/licensing/homeuseoptions.mspx

Thanks for becoming a police officer. I pray you get more use out of Excel than you do out of your gun.

 

[sniper5]

FYI, you probably already know this but if you don't I'll say it here. The BATF extends NO professional courtesy to LEO's. I work with an ex-SO who's entire department almost got busted for a non registered MG they found in a storage locker. His girlfriend was the BATF agent and forced the entire department up to and including the sheriff to provide statements on their knowledge or lack thereof about how that MG was found in the locker with no paper trail. His question to her: "So, is there some kind of problem or something?" Her answer (as she's dialing the phone for her supervisor): "Yes, there is." Him: "But we're cops." Her: "That doesn't matter." His remark to me years after the fact: "They really don't have any sense of humor."

 

[Coronach]

...and they're really unimpressed that you have a badge and gun. They have them, too. Nobody cares.

Mike

 

[GRIZ22]

The BATF extends NO professional courtesy to LEO's.

Why should they in the incident you relate? A LE agency could have easily registered the gun for no cost. If you're an LEO you're not going to get any professional courtesy from any agency with anything involving a felony. I know someone will chime in with "Sheriff Bubba and his boys...." but 99.99999% of LEOs won't overlook a felony.

 

[rscalzo]

Sales to individual officers are not exempt from FAET

Exactly right. That applies to a departmental purchase only. Other than that some manufacturers offer discounts. Some discounts aren't worth the trouble. Glock prices for LE are now around $420 for the base model with three magazines.

WHAT LE restricted guns?

MA has restrictions of handguns limited to certain models. This does not apply to LE apparently.

I guess you can buy the Rock River Arms 14.5" SBR

They are not a SBR is the compensator is permanently attached and the OAL length equals or is greater than 16".

 

[Coronach]

The BATF extends NO professional courtesy to LEO's.

Why should they in the incident you relate?

I don't think he is saying that he thinks they should. I believe (the poster can correct me if I am wrong) that he is trying to make sure that the OP, or anyone else reading, is clear that they don't. There is a general perception among the gun-owning public that the cops are exempt from federal gun laws and that the ATF will just let them slide because hey, you know, we're all cops here. Yeah, not so much.

It's one thing to have accidentally (or not so accidentally) have assembled an "assault weapon" back when the the AWB was in effect, and that MIGHT have gotten you a "hey...dude? That's illegal ... yeah, seriously" if it showed up on the firing line with an ATF agent there. But screwing around with NFA stuff will not get you any courtesy, nor should it. Good for the goose, good for the gander.

(Well, ok, in this case "bad for the goose, bad for the gander", but you get my point)

Mike

 

[sniper5]

Coronach-

Exactly.

The ex-SO that I was referring to was taken aback that his girlfriend/BATF agent (since they were dating and all) didn't just say-"Weeeeellll! You're not supposed to have that. So just get destroy it and that way I won't have to do anything about it."

But he was surprised when she saw it and got real formal, real fast.

I have witnessed first hand that some cops will look the other way with other cops, and some won't. There are some I've run into in LE that seem surprised when their peers DON'T look the other way. Serpico should be a mandatory read for every academy.

 

[NG VI]

In the immortal words of Judge Schmails-


YOU'LL GET NOTHING AND LIKE IT!!!

 

[Zach S]

During the AWB, LEO mags and firearms were supposed to be purchased with a department letterhead (however a badge normally worked well enough at gunshows). I dont know if you have a AWB locally, if so, you may have to do the same thing.

If you live in a title II friendly state, but dont have a title II friendly CLEO, being a LEO may get a signature on the form 1 or form 4. If not, you'll have to form an LLC or living trust just like we do.

"Misplace" your driver's license. When you go to get a replacement, go on your way to or from work - in uniform, of course. This will get you out of minor traffic tickets without giving the impression that you expect a break due to being on the job. If you work at Sears, you get the discount...

The local coffee shop never charges me for my nightly cup o' coffee, but you know? I always have a fiver in the back of my notepad wallet in case I am charged, and if I have spare cash I make sure I drop something in the tip jar...the baristas are working, too.

Several gas stations in my area offer free coffee to LEOs. Oddly enough, none of them have ever been robbed...

 

[John Parker]

Misplace" your driver's license. When you go to get a replacement, go on your way to or from work - in uniform, of course. This will get you out of minor traffic tickets without giving the impression that you expect a break due to being on the job.

OP: You're a cop. You should help set the standard, not bend it for personal gain. If you get a minor traffic ticket, you should pay it like everyone else. Everything you do reflects on your person, your department, and your community. Make your standards high and stick to them.

 

[Zach S]

Like I said, you work at Sears, you get the discount. You want the discount? Get the job.

You're a cop.

No I'm not. Never have been. Wouldn't consider it due to the 20k/year paycut.

 

[rscalzo]

If you're in NJ, you may have an easier time to get an "assault weapons" license than the rest of us, but I don't remember the particulars of the law.

Not really. The Chief LEO of the department can sign a waiver but the firearm cannot be retained upon leaving the department and must be purchased for use on the job. that means mandatory qualifications twice a year. Few departments actually will issue such a waiver. Same for hi-cap. They can be purchased only with a letter of exemption from the department and stating the specific magazines being purchased. While such magazines would be permitted for duty and off duty firearms, not departmentally approved firearms would not be permitted.

 

[rscalzo]

YOU'LL GET NOTHING AND LIKE IT!!!

A close friend of my family and next door neighbor was in that movie. He played Dr. Beeper.

Everything you do reflects on your person, your department, and your community. Make your standards high and stick to them.

I couldn't have phrased it better. That was something very close to a speech I gave new officers just walking in the door the first day.

 

[John Parker]

No I'm not. Never have been. Wouldn't consider it due to the 20k/year paycut.

Hey Zach, I was talking to the OP in reference to the advice that you wrote, I didn't mean to imply that you were in law enforcement. Edited above to be more clear.

 

[Zach S]

Okay. I didnt know if you were referring to me or the OP.

Without going too far off topic, I think we'll just have to agree to disagree.

 

[Jim K]

I had the same thought as Bigalexe. I think Gunman21 needs to consider his current situation both in his posts and in his "screen name." If his chief, commissioner, or a local politico should see one of "his" officers calling himself "gunman" and asking what machineguns he can buy, I think the young man's LE career could be over before it gets started.

Remember, posting on a web site like this is not like gabbing with your buddies in the rec room. It is like going on Larry King Live with a megaphone, or yelling from the steps of City Hall.

Jim