Hamilton police board approves purchase of more military-style assault rifles

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 recommendedpurchase of 26C8 carbine rifles during its monthly meeting Thursday afternoon.

• Hamilton police want military-style C8 rifles for front-line officers

Chief EricGirt 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 themfor bad intentions, we just need to be able to match that," he explained.

New rifles will be Canadian made

Girt added the high-poweredrifles have already being used by members of the service's tactical unit for the past decade, but theHamilton police aretheonly major service in Ontario that did not offer patrolofficers 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 amuzzle velocity of 868 metres per secondand is accurate up to 400 metres eachrifle for roughly $2,000.

"It's standard, it's right across the country for every ... larger police forceandeven 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 rifleis available in either fully or semi-automatic, but that the "majority" of theirlaw 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.

Watch a C8 in action:

The price tag also covers the cost oftraining16 officers from each division who will be selected by unit commanders based on criteria includingprevious military or tactical unit experience, Use of Force qualificationsand if they have"demonstrated above average competency and confidence in weapons handling and judgment."

Rifles about safety, not optics

Girt acknowledgedthere 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."