M-16 rifle

A member of the N.J. National Guard firing an M-16 on the range at Fort Dix. A total of 80 police departments across the state have acquired 894 similar rifles through a Pentagon military equipment giveaway. (Jerry McCrea | Star-Ledger File Photo)

Twenty-one surplus U.S. military assault rifles — all M-16 automatic rifles — have been given by the federal government to three Hunterdon County police departments.

They are among the 80 New Jersey law enforcement agencies, and 894 assault rifles, on an inventory list newly released by the state Attorney General.

Readington Township Police have 10 of the assault rifles, and officers patrol with them. Raritan Township has seven, and Lt. Al Payne said, "Currently they are in our gun locker storage unit and they are not being used.”

Town of Clinton Police have four of the donated assault rifles and also patrol with them. "We're not pretending to be in the military, we have to be equipped to protect the public," said Clinton Police Chief Brett Matheis..

These aren't the first assault rifles in use by Hunterdon police, nor are they they only ones; departments also buy the weapons. For instance, Flemington's plan in to spend $10,000 to buy four assault rifles in September 2012 drew questions and some opposition.

According to county Prosecutor Anthony P. Kearns III, “It’s important to know that anything that happens in other parts of the state can happen here in Hunterdon County."

"We do know that there are high-capacity firearms in the hands of the criminal element and that the police — for public safety and their own safety — need the ability to effectively respond with that level of firepower.”

Chief Sebastian Donaruma explained, "With a handgun, the average officer will have a difficult time being accurate at distances over 25 yards. The patrol rifle allows for accuracy at 100 yards or more."

Therefore, he said police can "engage a suspect at a longer range."

Kearns approves of the federal government distributing “military surplus” this way, because it offers “a cost savings to the municipalities and to the counties, and it’s an opportunity for these police departments to have the necessary resources to respond to what they could face.”

Over the past 20 years, New Jersey law enforcement agencies have received surplus military gear worth $32.8 million — including hundreds of automatic rifles, night vision scopes, laser range finders, combat knives, armored trucks, three helicopters and the grenade launcher — free of charge through a U.S. Defense program.

The great bulk of that equipment has gone to more populated areas. The list from the Attorney General show current inventory, not items that have been returned or destroyed.

Readington Township police bought semiautomatic AR-15 patrol rifles before receiving the 10 M-16 rifles through the federal program. Clinton also bought two AR-15 rifles. Matheis welcomed the savings offered by the federal program and hopes it continues.

Following the massacre in December 2012 at an elementary school in Newtown, Conn., sales of the AR-15 increased nationwide.

Matheis said Clinton's officers train on the assault rifles at a shooting range and hold drills at the local school when it's not in session, preparation for what many consider the unimaginable.

"I would be negligent If I sent an officer out with just a handgun." Matheis said, this is "sound risk management."

The M-16 military surplus assault rifles saved Readington taxpayers at least $9,000, said Donaruma. He said that buying a comparable rifle would have could the township $900 to $1,500 each. Instead it paid a $25 transfer fee per M-16, which as used weapons were each valued by the government at $499.

All Readington police officers are qualified twice yearly in order to use the weapons. That training is done in conjunction, said Donaruma, with mandated handgun qualifications.

In Clinton, Matheis said all police officers are qualified in their use four times yearly.

As a result, officers patrol in both municipalities with the M-16 rifles, along with basic life-saving and safety equipment. "The goal is to have one patrol rifle assigned to each officer, this way they can be fitted for each individual officer's preferences," said Donaruma.

Matheis said a Clinton officer normally relies on the department-issued handgun. The assault rifles, including two AR-15s purchased by Clinton, are "another piece of equipment we might need and it's important to make sure we have it."

Kearns said that having assault rifles in the hands of local police doesn't create a redundancy with Hunterdon's SWAT — special weapons and tactics — team. “The individual police departments are the first responders," he said. "Often it takes some time for the SWAT team to rally and respond, so we want to ensure the safety of the officer as well as to make sure that they have the proper resources.”

Because many SWAT team members in Hunterdon are local police officers, Kearns said they have the weapons and training to help them deal with a situation before the rest of the team arrives. By example, five Readington officers are also SWAT team members, as are two Clinton police officers.

Matheis said, "Property gets damaged and people get hurt, and there's no reason to think a serious incident couldn't happen in Clinton. We would be negligent if we didn't have" assault rifles. "It's necessary to protect officers on patrol and the public."

Reporters Rick Epstein and Christine Lee contributed to this article.



Renee Kiriluk-Hill may be reached at rkhill@hcdemocrat.com. Follow her on Twitter @ReneKirilukHill. Find The Hunterdon County Democrat on Facebook.