Council schedules surplus/destruction of recalled SIG pistols for July 30 after insurance‑approved waiver review

Police and legal staff briefed council July 16 on a batch of recalled SIG P320 pistols that the department no longer intends to deploy. The manufacturer has publicly stated the pistols are safe, but the city attorney and insurance carrier recommended that liability be minimized by either destroying the firearms or by surplusing them with a signed waiver for buyers.

Police Chief Feberlick said the department assembled about 29 firearms originally purchased for roughly $600 each; resale value was uncertain and could be low. The city attorney confirmed the insurance company and outside counsel had reviewed a waiver form that would reduce city liability if the firearms are sold through a licensed firearms dealer. The options presented to council were: destroy the firearms, surplus them for sale subject to the waiver, or authorize the city administrator to manage disposal options.

Council action in the study session: Councilmember Moore moved to forward Resolution 25‑13, declaring certain police department equipment surplus and authorizing disposal by the city administrator, to the July 30 regular meeting for placement on the consent agenda; the motion carried (recorded as 5–1). Following questions about disposal method, council later directed staff to make the item a standalone agenda item at the next meeting so council can choose whether to require destruction, sale with waiver, or another disposal approach.

Why this matters: A city’s decision on disposing recalled equipment balances liability, fiscal recovery and policy on public safety equipment.

Next steps: The resolution and the waiver language will be placed on the July 30 agenda as a standalone item; staff indicated the waiver has insurer and outside counsel review and that the council may direct sale with waiver or authorize destruction.