Hamilton police board approves purchase of more military-style assault rifles
The C8 carbine is capable of firing rounds with a muzzle velocity of 868 m/s
More than two-dozen front-line Hamilton police officers will soon be equipped with military-style assault rifles.
The Police Services Board approved the force's recommended purchase of 26 C8 carbine rifles during its monthly meeting Thursday afternoon.
Chief Eric Girt said the decision is about ensuring the public and police officers remain safe, specifically when it comes to taking on targets at long range.
"Firearm capability have increased and in terms of [what's in] the hands of people who will use them for bad intentions, we just need to be able to match that," he explained.
New rifles will be Canadian made
Girt added the high-powered rifles have already being used by members of the service's tactical unit for the past decade, but the Hamilton police are the only major service in Ontario that did not offer patrol officers a carbine rifle.
It's standard, it's right across the country.- Alex Payne, Colt Canada
The rifle is made by Colt Canada in Kitchener, Ont. and comes with a standard 30-round magazine. It's capable of firing rounds with a muzzle velocity of 868 metres per second and is accurate up to 400 metres — each rifle for roughly $2,000.
"It's standard, it's right across the country for every ... larger police force and even some of the smaller ones," said Alex Payne, a spokesperson for the firearm's manufacturer. "The C8 is the preferred weapon of choice."
He said the rifle is available in either fully or semi-automatic, but that the "majority" of their law enforcement customers buy the semi-automatic version.
It will cost an estimated $95,562.23 add the "accurate, rugged and reliable" rifles to the service's arsenal.
The price tag also covers the cost of training 16 officers from each division who will be selected by unit commanders based on criteria including previous military or tactical unit experience, Use of Force qualifications and if they have "demonstrated above average competency and confidence in weapons handling and judgment."
Rifles about safety, not optics
Girt acknowledged there are risks to deploying the rifle.
The chief specifically cited the range bullets can travel compared to other police service weapons, and said proper training to ensure officers don't think the guns are a "magic tool" that will turn them into a sniper is important.
As for concerns about increasing militarization of police, Girt maintained it's important for officers to have the correct tools to keep people, and themselves, safe.
"If you're worried about optics, you still have the risk of an active shooter shooting people at a distance."