Seattle Police Manual

9.100 – Department Firearms Management

Effective Date: May 15, 2013

9.100-POL

This policy applies to all live-fire, simunition, traded, converted, operable and inoperable firearms that are either currently or have been previously subject to federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives regulations.

1. The Quartermaster Takes Initial Possession of all Firearms Before They May be Issued or Maintained in any Unit Inventory

2. Department Units May Maintain “Unit Firearms” for Specific Use

Units that maintain an inventory of unit-specific weapons may issue additional weapons at the Unit Commander’s discretion.

3. Employees May be Assigned No More Than One Department-Issued Handgun

 Exception: A bureau chief may authorize additional firearms. (See 9.100-PRO-1)

4.  Rifles and Shotguns May be Issued to Officers Meeting Qualification Criteria

See Seattle Police Manual Section 9.090-Rifle & Shotgun Programs.

5. Officers Must Maintain a Current Qualification at the SPD Range With Any Weapon They Are Authorized to Use

See Seattle Police Manual Sections 9.120-Firearms and 9.090-Rifle & Shotgun Programs.

6. Officers Must Turn in any Department-Owned Firearm to the Quartermaster That is to be Sold, Traded Externally or Destroyed

This will occur before any transaction takes place.

7. Officers Must Document the Trading or Transferring of Firearms From One Department Unit to Another Department Unit on the Unit Specialty Weapon Trade/Transfer Form (Form 23.6)

See 9.100-TSK-3

8. All Firearms That Cannot Be Accounted for Must be Reported

See Seattle Police Manual Section 9.110-Care and Use of City Equipment and Property.

9. When Retiring or Separating, an Employee Must Surrender all Individually-Issued Firearms to the Quartermaster

Unit firearms stay with the unit.

10. The Audit, Policy & Research Section Will Conduct an Annual Audit of Units Maintaining Unit Firearms

 

9.100-PRO-1 Procedure for Authorizing Additional Individually-Issued Handguns

Officer

1. Sends a written request to the Bureau Chief, through their chain of command, detailing the reason an additional handgun is needed.

Bureau Chief

2. If approved, authorizes funding for the additional handgun.

If not approved, sends written documentation to the officer’s captain as to why the request was denied.

3. Forwards the written documentation to the Quartermaster.

Quartermaster

4. Attaches the written documentation to the employee’s Property Control Card.

 

 

9.100-PRO-2 Procedure for Releasing/Re-issuing Department Firearms from Evidence

Investigating Detective

1. Signs the Property Disposition Authorization (form 1.17).

Evidence Unit

2. Releases the weapon to the Quartermaster, pending inspection by the Firearms Training Squad.

Firearms Training Squad

3. Inspects the weapon released to the Quartermaster during the process outlined above.

Quartermaster Unit

4. Releases all rifles and shotguns that had been placed into Evidence directly to the issuing unit.

5. Notifies the involved officer by Department email of the release and ability to obtain the original firearm. 

Officer

6. Maintains the option of receiving his/her original firearm, after returning the replacement firearm, within two weeks of being notified by the Quartermaster.

 

 

9.100-TSK-1 Quartermaster’s Tasks in Handling Department-Owned Firearms

When handling firearms, the Quartermaster:

1. Maintains a current location and accurate inventory of all Department-owned firearms, from initial possession to final disposition in the Quartermaster Master Gun Database (MGD).

2. Takes all reasonable steps to ensure the security of firearms stored at the Quartermaster facility.

3. When placing a firearm into service, physically inspects each weapon and records the make, model and serial number into the MGD.

4. If obtained through conversion, physically verifies with the Evidence Unit the make, model and serial number of the firearm before it is issued.

5. Tracks all firearms that have been issued to outside agencies in the MGD.

6. Maintains responsibility for all Department-owned firearms that are to be destroyed except firearms that are evidence.

7. Initiates the Washington State Transfer Form, if an officer wishes to purchase a handgun that is authorized to be sold.

 

9.100-TSK-2 Units With Unit Firearms

When maintaining an inventory of specialty unit firearms, a unit’s sergeant:

1. Lists the make, model and serial number of a unit firearm and to whom the firearm is issued, either on a paper or electronic log sheet.

2. Inspects these firearms annually.

3. Documents the results of this inspection on the paper or electronic log sheet.

4. Documents any changes in the unit inventory.

5. Sends a copy of the current inventory to the Quartermaster annually.

6. Retains a copy of the inventory for record keeping purposes.

 

9.100-TSK-3 Unit’s Tasks for Trading/Transferring Unit Firearms

When Department units trade or transfer unit firearms internally, they:

1. Coordinate the trade or transfer between Department units.

2. Complete the Unit Specialty Weapon Trade/Transfer Form (form 23.6)

3. Personnel from the unit receiving the firearm send a copy of this form to the Quartermaster within 72 hours.

9.100-TSK-4 Employee’s Procedures for Purchasing a Department Firearm

When an employee wishes to purchase a Department-owned firearm that is authorized to be sold, they:

1. Notify the Quartermaster in person of their intent to purchase the firearm.

2. Pay for the firearm at the Fiscal Unit.

3. Receive a receipt for the weapon, which includes the make, model and serial number.

4. Present this receipt to the Quartermaster in exchange for the desired firearm