Quote :

"ALE agents armed with assault rifles; 2 are missing RALEIGH -- Every agent at the N.C. Division of Alcohol Law Enforcement has a state-issued assault rifle, and two of the expensive and powerful firearms are missing. "I am extremely concerned about this," said Bill Chandler, the state's ALE director since 2007. "We don't know where the weapons are." The thefts and an accidental shooting this summer have led to new policies at ALE. At the same time, the incidents have brought attention to the agency's growing arsenal. With just 104 full-time agents, ALE's primary responsibility is to enforce state laws on the purchase and sale of alcoholic beverages. Though its officers are rarely involved in situations where the use of deadly force is required, ALE is the only state law-enforcement agency to provide every agent with an assault rifle. "Wow, I didn't know they had those," said Sen. Ed Jones, a Democrat from Enfield who is a retired state trooper. "I'm sitting here trying to think of a good reason to justify why ALE would need that much firepower, but I'm having some trouble." Chandler, who has one of the agency's Sig assault rifles, said Friday that the weapons are essential for his agents. On Dec. 11, ALE Agent Bryan S. Irvin reported that his state-issued Sig Sauer model 552 assault rifle was stolen out of a Pontiac Grand Prix in the driveway of his home. Also stolen were two 30- round magazines, a targeting laser and a barrel-mounted tactical flashlight. There were no signs of forced entry, according to a report filed by the Davie County Sheriff's Office. On March 4, Agent Derwin Brayboy reported to Fayetteville Police that his Sig assault rifle was missing. Brayboy was unsure how long his weapon had been gone, but he suggested in an internal ALE report that it might have been stolen out of the trunk of his car 11 days earlier as he raided a nightclub. ALE issued new procedures following the thefts and now requires agents to inventory their equipment each week. They must check boxes to confirm they still have their handgun, assault rifle, bullet-resistant vest, walkie-talkie, binoculars and badge. Securing side arms On July 20, the same day an agent in Charlotte reported that his handgun had been stolen out of his car, Chandler sent an e-mail instructing his officers to secure their side arms with handcuffs. "The weapon shall be locked with the cable through the trigger guard," wrote Chandler. "If the cable will not fit through the trigger guard ... handcuffs should be locked around the weapon cable and the weapon should be covered so as to hide it." On Aug 24, ALE Special Agent Nelson W. Corthell accidentally shot himself in the hand at home in Hendersonville. The bullet lodged in his arm, according to his 911 call. About two hours later, another e-mail was sent to all ALE officers. "Whenever you secure a weapon using the issued cable lock or any other means (handcuffs, etc.) it is vital that the weapon be rendered safe by unloading it," wrote Patrick Forbis, a special agent-in-charge in Elizabeth City. "This unloading should be done first prior to placing any security device on the weapon." A salesman at Hill's Sporting Goods, a Raleigh gun store, said Friday that he has never heard of anyone using handcuffs to secure a firearm, especially a loaded one. "That doesn't sound safe," said Bobby Simpson, who has sold rifles and pistols for 36 years. Trigger locks designed for safely storing handguns are available at the store for $14 each, he said. This is not the first time ALE officials have had to answer questions about the agency's handling of firearms. ALE Director Ronald Dale resigned in 1997 as The News & Observer reported that the agency had bought M-14 rifles, a military weapon that can be fired like a machine gun. Dale kept three at his hunting lodge."

http://www.newsobserver.com/news/story/1687057.html


May I see your ID, please?

9/13/2009 9:37:21 AM

seems like a huge waste of money. why not just have a designated response team instead of issuing those to everyone?

9/13/2009 9:50:14 AM

why the FUCK would ALE ever need a fucking ASSAULT RIFLE?



HUGE WASTE OF MONEY

9/13/2009 10:08:41 AM

How can go 11 days without verifying the whereabouts of your firearm?

9/13/2009 10:13:23 AM

Quote :

"why the FUCK would ALE ever need a fucking ASSAULT RIFLE? HUGE WASTE OF MONEY"

9/13/2009 10:13:43 AM

I think they're compensating for something.....

9/13/2009 10:15:31 AM

pretty soon we're going to see mall cops with AKs

9/13/2009 10:18:09 AM

...their extreme overfunding.

[Edited on September 13, 2009 at 10:18 AM. Reason : ^^]

9/13/2009 10:18:15 AM

Probably the same reason BATFE needs these:

9/13/2009 10:41:38 AM

ha someone snuck that purchase in on the budget.

Quote :

"Dale kept three at his hunting lodge."

wouldn't doubt if the missing rifles wind up at someone's hunting lodge.

9/13/2009 10:48:15 AM

Quote :

"why the FUCK would ALE ever need a fucking ASSAULT RIFLE? HUGE WASTE OF MONEY"

isn't ALE essentially a local version of the ATF? yes i realize there is no T or F in the local name, but i'm almost sure they deal with crimes and criminal enterprises involving alcohol/tobacco/drugs and gambling.

i actually think that the assault weapons are justified, considering that gangsters are the ones hijacking 18-wheelers and running the illegal gambling and drug trades.

when there's big money to be made, there's usually big firepower. i'm really not surprised or offended by this.

9/13/2009 10:54:06 AM

Quote :

"How can go 11 days without verifying the whereabouts of your firearm?"

Agreed. I'd be interested to know how many of these agents have ever actually used that weapon in the course of ANYTHING they've done in the line of duty. Why are these idiots leaving assault rifles in unmanned vehicles? If a civilian had an AR stolen from a vehicle I'm sure they'd at least revoke CC permit eligibility for it.

9/13/2009 12:30:06 PM

yes
i was involved in an ale task force drug raid 2 years ago, lol.

9/13/2009 12:30:54 PM

I just wish our dept had the $texas to issue those to the patrol units.

9/13/2009 12:43:37 PM

Jesus Christ.

Buncha fucking morons who are pissed that they aren't real cops.

9/13/2009 12:47:53 PM

[image]http://This is not the first time ALE officials have had to answer questions about the agency's handling of firearms. ALE Director Ronald Dale resigned in 1997 as The News & Observer reported that the agency had bought M-14 rifles, a military weapon that can be fired like a machine gun. Dale kept three at his hunting lodge."[/image]

Damn they have M-14's also?

They planning on overthrowing the state government or something?

9/13/2009 12:50:50 PM

Quote :

"SO MUCH F(ALE)"

9/13/2009 12:53:49 PM