Editor's note: A previous version of this article misstated the gun buyback policy of the Missouri Highway Patrol.

Springfield Police Chief Paul Williams wants to make it possible for city police officers to take their guns with them when they retire.

On Monday, Williams asked the Springfield City Council to consider giving his officers the option to buy their guns at the end of their careers to allow them to keep a potentially sentimental object.

"As you might imagine, a service pistol that you carry for the duration of your career, you develop a fondness or attachment for it," Williams said.

The program would also keep the city from selling those guns back to the general population.

Under current city policy, the city sells the guns back to a vendor when they purchase new weapons as a sort of rebate. Those firearms are then sold by the vendors to the public.

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Such sales have been the source of scrutiny in recent years as some argue former police weapon sales can contribute to gun crime, though much of the impact is unknown.

A report on the podcast Reveal through the Center for Investigative Reporting found it was nearly impossible to tell how many former police guns end up in crimes because of federal laws that suppress tracing that information.

And a 2018 investigation from the Associated Press found more than a dozen firearms used in suspected gun crimes were previously used by the police in Washington.

Williams said many departments across the country have developed similar buy-back or gifting policies for retiring officers. He gave some examples of departments in Missouri.

In Columbia, the police department allows its officers to keep their weapons without any payment, though Williams said that'd cost the department money and he didn't think it would be a viable option.

Williams said the city typically recovers about $180 per weapon from resale, but it depends on its model and age. A new gun costs between $500 and $600.

The policy would typically affect 10-15 officers who retire each year.

Monday's testimony came during the public comment period for the code change. The council is expected to take a final vote on the measure at a future meeting.

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