| Updated: 1/24 9:55 am |
Published: 1/23 6:01 pm
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Budgets for police departments are very tight. One couple's generosity is giving the Owasso Police Department 30 new Colt M-4 Carbine rifles.
Lynn and Barbara Owens donated $30,725 to the Department. The rifles provide precision shooting at a greater distance compared to shotguns and handguns. The department says it will increase officer and citizen safety. The couple agrees.
"I have grandchildren here. I have children here," said Lynn.
There isn’t a dollar amount that can show how important their safety is to him, but in front of police and city leaders the couple shared why they donated the money to police.
"You give where you live and we believe that," Lynn told FOX23.
His belief will be helping the department bring in new weapons.
"Any tool you can give that we can give an officer to stop a dangerous threat, that might be threatening them or others in the community is valued," said Owasso Police Deputy Chief, Scott Chambliss.
He says they've responded to numerous situations where these guns would've helped. Chambliss told FOX23 some of the officers even had to use their own military-style assault weapons. Now, they'll have their own on the job.
"I do think that the trend across the country is to equip officers in the field with more capability to deal with the threats they are being confronted with," Chambliss said.
"This is the gift Barbara and I hope is never used," said Lynn.
Owasso will begin purchasing the rifles in February. Then they'll begin training officers who aren't already familiar with the guns.
