Addison cops get futuristic firepower to match bad guys'

It looks like something right out of a science fiction show, and that's because it is.

The FNH PS 90, a weapon carried by characters on the Sci-Fi Channel Stargate SG-1, is now the assigned patrol rifle for the Addison Police Department.

It's intended to give the 32 officers more firepower to augment their pistols and shotguns, but it's a defensive weapon, not something commonly used by a SWAT team, said Lt. Paul Spencer.

Police departments all over the nation have been arming their patrol officers with rifles and carbines since the North Hollywood shootout of February 1997 when patrol officers were outgunned by two bank robbers with assault rifles and body armor.

Spencer said that scenario played out locally in November 2004 when two men led Richardson and Plano police on a spectacular high-speed chase through southern Collin County. The men riddled police cars with bullets fired from "AK-47-style" rifles.

Many departments have purchased AR-15 patrol rifles, which are similar to weapons used by the U.S. military. Those guns, however, fire .223-caliber rounds with bullets that penetrate their initial targets, but then keep going.

That's a problem in urban settings, like crowded areas with banks and retail shops, where innocent people could get caught in the crossfire, Spencer said. Therefore, he added, Addison decided to acquire a weapon that shoots the 5.7X28mm, which tends to stay in the target. That caliber is available in the futuristic-looking semiautomatic carbine manufactured by Belgium-based Fabrique Nationale.

According to an Addison news release, the gun’s design is compact because part of the 16-inch barrel is placed in its stock, "making it easy to fire with less recoil than the officer’s automatic pistol."

The short barrel allows an officer to fire it from inside a squad car -– unlike a shotgun or standard rifle, Spencer said. He noted that White House-based Secret Service agents have used the same weapon since the late 1990s, but Addison is the first department in the country to provide the weapons to patrol officers.

At about $1,700 apiece they are twice as expensive as the AR-15s available for bulk purchase by police departments, but Addison only needed to buy 12 of them, Spencer said.

"This is not for offense," he said. "We're not making our patrol officers into SWAT cops. But if the bad guys come out shooing from a bank, we want you to defend yourself, and also the citizens who may be back behind your car."

-- Bill Miller

Comments

[Colt]

Excellent choice! Perfect weapon for what they intend it for. They can have it inside the car. As I watched the Dallas police officers loading their AR-15 style guns, under the trunk lid, the thought crossed my mind, that if they need it fast, that could be a long way away.
Some people say when the cops are out gunned they should back off. Let them go. Arrest them later.
Sounds good on paper, but if they let them go, and they go kill a bunch of folks, the cops would be crucified. If they stand and fight and a bystander is hit, they would be crucified. It's catch 22.

[John Smith]

Riiight. I live in this town. They dont really *need* these things... This town just has nothing better to spend its money on.

*points at all the brand new Dodge Charger cop cars*

then

*points at all the brand new motorcycle cop bikes*

If they'd write a few less speeding tickets I'd bet their budget would fall within a more reasonable range.

[Delaina Alani]

Cheers to Addison!
Anywhere you have illegal drugs you have guns period. As long as there are pourous Mexican borders and cartels,Zetas and their counterparts will thrive.
Every city in Texas (Arizona and CA too) should expect to spend on "upgrades," because I'd be willing to bet the drug dealers routinely are.
It wouldn't bother me to get an announcement from my City Council folks, announcing higher taxes so Fort Worth can arm every cop to the hilt.

[jr]

Fort worth is already carrying AR15's, many purchased by the officers themselves. There should not be a city in the US that doesn't allow Officers to carry a patrol rifle. I do not care much for the 5.7X28, I prefer the .223. I don't know if Clint Smith is the originator of this quote but it's my favorite.

“The only purpose for a pistol is to fight your way back to the rifle you should have never laid down”. Clint Smith

[Mark]

Cheers to Addison. Sounds like user John Smith is still a little sore from the last speeding ticket.

[Delaina Alani]

J.R. I'll assume you mean our Fort Worth Officers had to pay for their own weapons and if so, that's shameful and unnacceptable.
I'd like to see Fort Worth Officers demand reimbursement because in my heart, I recognize and regard a moral responsibility to safeguard police.

I'll go furthar fully aware my name is publically associated with this posting.

My biggest issue with any individual regardless of citizenship, race, age or gender is, if you try to shoot, not just kill, if you even try to take the life of any officer, I personally want that individual to never make it out alive.

Society does not owe literal scum a ride anywhere nor any medical care, jail stay, attorneys fees, counseling fees, family therapy, or time with the media.
Think I'm overzealous readers?
You are grossly out of touch with how many have gone down even 30 minutes away, right there in big D in just the past couple of years.
Look at the figures nationwide.

[Kevin M.]

I own a personal PS90 and very much enjoy the weapon. But I have to take issue with one of the statements in that article. It states, "Many departments have purchased AR-15 patrol rifles, which are similar to weapons used by the U.S. military. Those guns, however, fire .223-caliber rounds with bullets that penetrate their initial targets, but then keep going."

This is only true if using the military SS109 (M855) ammunition that has a tungsten penetrator core. Most .223 ammunition that is full metal jacket (FMJ), hollowpoint (HP), soft point, nosler partition, etc. will NOT overpenetrate. In most cases the rounds will stay within the bad guy, sheetrock, etc. There is a reason tactical teams are using .223 platforms for indoor work. They penetrate less than 9mm ammunition from carbines and submachine guns.

[Ajf 6]

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