The Albuquerque Police Department plans to buy at least 350 military-style rifles as replacement for officer-owned weapons.
KOB-TV reports that a request for bid called for purchases of 350 AR-15 rifles in a two-year contract's first year, followed by more purchases as necessary.
Police Chief Gorden Eden in May said officers could no longer carry personally-owned weapons in the field.
Eden took that action after the U.S. Department of Justice said in a report on use of force by Albuquerque officers that officers would purchase expensive weapons and viewed them as "status symbols."
Police officers union President Stephanie Lopez says officers need weapons such as AR-15s. She cited an October shooting rampage by a man who fired an assault rifle while dressed in body armor.
Information from: KOB-TV.
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