Bridgeport Police Department Nets Nearly $11,000 for Firearms Auctioned by Office of the State Treasurer
West Virginia State Treasurer Larry Pack was in Bridgeport today and he was not collecting money. The good news for the city was that he was giving money out.
The auction netted $132,495 to benefit 18 participating law enforcement agencies, one of which was Bridgeport. The Bridgeport Police Department contributed 59 firearms to the auction to net the funds received.
Detectives Jason Carey and Sgt. Brett Stewart said the majority of the firearms were gathered in the last four years. However, a few date back well beyond that, including one going back to 2007. Stewart said guns come from a number of sources, including drug cases, and Carey said there is one main area.
“The majority of the guns seized were from felon possessions of firearms where the guns could not be returned,” said Carey. “There are steps we have to take to try and return guns that are seized. After a certain amount of time the guns, basically, become property of the Bridgeport Police Department.”
The auction’s buyers, said Carey, carried federal firearms licenses (FFL). Random individuals could not purchase from the auction.
There were 624 firearms in the auction from the participating agencies. There was also 700 pounds of ammunition. Pack’s office said that it made it the largest firearms auction by volume in Office history. There were 230 federally licensed firearms dealers from multiple states who registered to participate in the live auction.
“It’s a blessing to have a program to give back to local police departments,” said Pack. “Everybody’s budget is tight. There’s not excess money there and they may not have the funds needed for a particular piece of equipment … This helps on that front and many others.”
Rogers, Stewart, and Carey said the funds will likely be used in several different areas, including the purchase of equipment. Training, technology, and safety equipment are all areas where the funding will likely be utilized, they said.
The removal of the firearms also frees up space in departments across the state. Bridgeport, which will soon have a new department building, is relocating due, among other reasons, to a lack of space.
Pack was joined by Mark Harrison, Regional Treasury Representative, and State Senator Ben Queen. Interim City Manager Joe Shuttleworth was also part of the ceremony.
Editor’s Note: Pictured, from left, Senator Ben Queen, Chief Mark Rogers, State Treasurer Larry Pack, Detective Jason Carey, Sgt. Detective Brett Stewart, and Interim City Manager Joe Shuttleworth.