McMinn County is located in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. It boasts beautiful scenery, but its sheriff’s department can boast something else.

The department received more military surplus guns than any other local department in the state last year.

“We actually reconfigured the whole armory to accommodate all of this,” said Sheriff Joe Guy.

Sheriff Guy oversees 31 officers and investigators, but his department received 161 army rifles and pistols, including 71 M16 rifles and 71 .45-caliber pistols.

NewsChannel 5 Investigates asked, “Why does your department need all these guns?”

Sheriff Guy responded, “Well, we don’t need this many. There was a little error in the order.”

The Sheriff said the Army surplus program doubled his initial order, but he hasn’t sent the guns back.

“They’re here as our department grows. We’ll have additional firearms for future officers,” Sheriff Guy said.