Assault rifle added to Windsor police arsenal

The Windsor Police Service is adding high-powered rifles to its arsenal.

The C8 patrol carbine rifle is beginning to replace the 12-gauge shotgun currently being used.

The rifle is more accurate and fires more bullets with less penetrating power, thus reducing the chance of someone else being hit.

Insp.Tom Crowley says they will only be used in high-risk situations, as stipulated by police policy.

"The directives, they're complete, but they have not been signed yet by the chief," Crowley said. "It's a support rifle and most commonly used in situations of serious bodily harm or death."

The service has purchased 15 of the new rifles. Each carbine rifle costs about $2,000. More will be purchased as the funding becomes available.

Training is underway. The goal is to have all 213 officers on patrol trained by the end of the year.

Eventually, all patrol cars will have them on board. Crowley said there isn't a safety or security concern.

"We have a vehicle mounting device that is very secure and very well tested across North America," he said.

According to Crowley, there are more than 20 police services across the province already using the carbine rifle.

The C8 patrol carbine a version of a rifle similar to an M-16 is now used by the army and police tactical squads, including the RCMP's emergency response teams, and other police agencies. Two years ago, the RCMP began adding the gun to its arsenal.

Last year, police officers in the city used their shotguns eight times, mainly to put down injured animals.