Sheriff’s office to get new rifles

Jay County Sheriff’s Office will be purchasing new rifles this year.

Jay County Commissioners on Monday approved spending up to $24,640.69 — the funding will be paid for using state dollars and other money accrued by the department — for 17 patrol rifles for Jay County Sheriff’s Office.

Jay County Sheriff Ray Newton explained the department’s old patrol rifles — the M16 rifles were sold last year — likely dated back to the 1960s and ’70s. Their age and corresponding red tape that came with them prompted the department to look into other options.

With the new SIG M400 Pro rifles, officers will be outfitted with the same weapons across the board. (The department still has a few semi automatic rifles, but currently patrol officers use their personal rifles, explained deputy Ben Schwartz.)

“It’s just kind of a hodgepodge of whatever they have, and I think it’s time to get on board so everyone has the exact same setup across the board so it all makes sense,” said Schwartz.

All accessories on the 5.56 caliber rifles will be the same, including features such as mountable flashlights and slings. 

Newton also cited liability as a reason to move forward with creating a uniform rifles for all officers.

“We need to carry department-issued guns, department-issued setup,” said Newton. “Everyone (should) carry the same exact patrol rifle. You know, back in the days, the shotgun was a big thing. Then they started bringing in rifles. Shotguns have went away, now it’s patrol rifles, and (we’re) just trying to get everyone on the same thing.”

Jay County Sheriff’s Office has received about $30,000 so far from the state in dollars allocated by the Indiana General Assembly — the amount each participating entity gets is based on what it made in personal protection permits in 2020, with Jay County’s at just under $10,000. (An additional $10,000 is expected sometime this year.) Plans are to use a portion of those funds as well as the $13,000 received from the weapons sold in 2023.

“We’ve been budgeting this money for the last, well, since last year,” explained Newton. “This is money that is all set up to be used for this reason.”

The purchase includes plans to trade in six of the department’s 5.56 millimeter Rock River AR-15 semi automatic rifles for $1,950.

In related business, commissioners Brian McGalliard, Chad Aker and Rex Journay also OK’d purchasing two 2023 Dodge Durangos at $41,827 apiece and a 2023 Dodge Ram pickup at $38,467 from Thomas Dodge Chrysler Jeep of Highland for the sheriff’s office. Their approval was contingent upon whether the business could provide the vehicles immediately. (If not, they plan to revisit quotes, including a potential offer from Glass Capital Chrysler Dodge Jeep RAM of Dunkirk that was not presented at the meeting Monday.)

Newton also pointed out the department is currently in need of another deputy for the sheriff’s office and four correctional officers for Jay County Jail.