RivCo Board Approves Sale of Pistols to State Firefighters

RIVERSIDE, CA - The Board of Supervisors Tuesday authorized the sale of 37 county-owned surplus handguns to Cal Fire arson investigators.

In a 4-0 vote -- with Supervisor John Tavaglione absent -- the board signed off on Riverside County Fire Department Chief John Hawkins' proposal to sell the semiautomatic handguns to members of the Cal Fire law enforcement unit for $375 each.

The investigators utilized the Sig Sauer P226, P229, P239 and P245 pistols at one time, but the guns recently were put into storage when the state upgraded to P320s, with which all of the sworn personnel have been armed, according to fire officials.

Instead of destroying the surplus firearms -- a process that county staff noted would be highly expensive -- Hawkins recommended the sale to the Cal Fire personnel, who provide investigatory and enforcement services under a contract between the county and state.

The county is expected to make $13,875 from the transactions, which will be handled by a federally licensed firearms dealer, according to fire department documents.

All of the money will be deposited into the general fund.

– By City News Service. Image via Shutterstock.