OXFORD — A request for new pistols and rifles to update the Oxford Police armory was approved by selectmen Thursday night.

By a unanimous vote, selectmen approved spending $4,921 to buy three Glock 9mm pistols and two Bushmaster AR-15 rifles equipped with holographic sights.

According to an Oct. 16 letter to selectmen by Oxford police Chief Jon Tibbetts, the department needs to replace three pistols that have been in service for more than 10 years.

Glock recommends that pistol parts such as springs and magazines are regularly checked and replaced to ensure safe and reliable operation. Because service weapons are always loaded, the springs are constantly compressed, which causes strain on the parts, Tibbetts told selectmen at the meeting.

“I just want to make sure that if it’s needed, it won’t fail,” Tibbetts said.

The cost to replace the parts for the three pistols is $1,003, while purchasing new guns is $1,071. The department’s used pistols will be resold to a firearms dealer.

The addition of two Bushhmaster rifles is needed to address an officer safety issue, according to Tibbett’s request. The department currently has four of the weapons, leaving two officers short. Because the sight profile on each rifle is tailored to an individual, the weapons cannot be shared between members of the department, Tibbetts said. 

There is a slim possibility of officers needing to use the rifles in the line of duty, Tibbetts noted in the letter, but making sure the equipment will function properly is important.

“The rifles are important for any active shooter that we may encounter and increase the odds in our favor and add protection for the officer,” Tibbetts notes. 

“The current state of affairs in society suggest that the odds of having a mass shooting incident in a small town are high. I want to make sure that the officers in this town have all the necessary tools to protect themselves and the community.”

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