Title
Heckler and Koch MP-5 Trade-In/Trade-Up Plan
History
In the 1990’s and 2000’s the Orland Park Police Department maintained their own Special Response Team (SRT). This was a small 22-member internal SWAT Team. In 2008 the National Tactical Officers Association raised the monthly team training requirements from one day per month up to two days per month. With one day per month already a strain on staffing levels, the increase of two days per month rendered this internal team unsustainable. We then joined the South Suburban Emergency Response Team with three officers representing our agency.
Weapons maintained specifically for the SRT were then placed in storage. These weapons included six 40cal Heckler & Koch (HK) MP-5 SMG’s, two 5.56mm HK G36 Rifles and 19 Colt 5.56mm M-16 Rifles (LESO Government loaned rifles). Since this time, the MP-5’s and G36’s have remained in storage, out of service, and have become outdated models/versions. During a recent assessment of internal firearms resources, it was learned that the .40cal MP-5’s are no longer manufactured, but the parts have become in high demand. HK was contacted directly about seeking options for these weapons, and they referred the Orland Park Police Department to PAI Defense, out of Columbia City, Indiana. PAI is a regional distributor of HK products. They purchase older firearms, destroy the receivers, and then sell the remaining firearm parts. PAI also deals with current model firearms purchases. They are willing to apply the money they would pay for these older model firearms toward a new purchase of the most current model firearms.
Additionally, back in 2012, the OPPD purchased seventeen 5.56mm RGuns AR15 Rifles. Within the first few years, it was determined that these rifles were not built sturdy enough to handle the day-to-day stressors put on them by Patrol Officers. These rifles have been removed from service for the last 8 years and only used for training purposes. We have also had an inve...
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