Committee recommends approval of DPD special response team rifle purchase after safety questions

The Detroit Public Health & Safety committee discussed a one-year contract (6007535) to buy rifles for the Detroit Police Department’s Special Response Team and voted to send the item to the full council with a recommendation to approve.

Commander Ian Savory of the Metropolitan Division said the purchase replaces rifles last bought in 2016 that had reached their service life and were taken out of service. Savory said privately owned rifles carried by members are examined to department standards and that the new contract would allow uniform issuance and include repair kits and training designed to extend service life.

"Those rifles that are privately owned are held to a very high standard and examined," Savory said, adding that the plan includes master armorers and repair kits to double expected lifespan.

Vice Chair Denzel McCampbell asked about storage and access; Savory said the rifles are kept in a highly secured armory with 24-hour monitoring and a vault door. The chair asked whether the rifles would ever be used on nonviolent protesters; Savory, who also oversees protest response, said the rifles would not be used for nonviolent protests and described firearms as a last resort.

Committee members also asked whether the department pursues nonlethal options first and whether there are Detroit-based vendors for future procurement; officials said nonlethal options are used when feasible and that trade-in credits were included in the contract to offset costs.

The committee sent the item to formal session with a recommendation to approve; no final purchase was authorized at this meeting.