By Jerry McDowell
The Pantagraph
EUREKA, Ill. — Eureka will consider a proposal to allow police to carry their own weapons, rather than the city-issued Glock .40-caliber guns they have been provided for more than a decade.
Police Chief Eric Luckey said the policy would be modeled after one in Peoria, but would not require that even off-duty officers always carry a weapon. The public safety committee will consider the idea.
Luckey said the 14 Glocks need to be refurbished, a cost of about $200 each. All but three are more than a decade old.
Range officer Alex Collinge said allowing officers to carry their own weapons would remove any city liability and would allow officers to carry a weapon they are comfortable with, he said.
The requirement would likely be .40-caliber or .45-caliber, he said.
Allowing officers to carry their own weapons could also allow the city to expand its part-time force, Mayor Scott Punke said.
If approved, officers could buy their former weapon from the city, Luckey said.
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