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In Spite of Public Concerns, Cops Will Be Given Guns Says DPS Commish

Samoa News

26 November 2013

By Joyetter Feagaimaalii-Luamanu

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"In order for our Police Department to be recognized and be qualified as a fully fledged police department there's a need for the police officers to be armed… said Commissioner of Public Safety William Bill Haleck.

Last Saturday the Commissioner picked up 24 Glock-17s, which are 9-millimeter handguns which were purchased through the Criminal Justice Planning Agency, with the approval of Governor Lolo Matalasi Moliga for $10,400. Haleck said they went directly to the manufacturer to purchase the guns…

The Commissioner told Samoa News that among the reasons why they are keen on arming the police officers is due to the death shooting of Police Lt Liusila Brown on July 22, 2010 and the attempted murder of another police officer in front of the temporary court house in Fagatogo…

"Another reason DPS is not recognized as a legitimate police department is because, in order for us to be a legitimate police department we have to be armed," said Commissioner Haleck. "There was a case where we had to extradite people from Honolulu. They wouldn't let our officer bring those people back because we're not armed, he told Samoa News…

He laid out his plan for the guns with Samoa News, that there will be five guns distributed among the Leone Substation, Tafuna Substation, East Substation and Central Station and with every shift there should be at least one or two officers armed, in case something happens.

Haleck told Samoa News they will also be getting guns from the Honolulu Police Department, which will be donating their used firearms.

ID: N314

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