Sanford commissioners on Aug. 11 approved a budget transfer of $70,000 to begin a phased replacement of the police department's service pistols, moving toward Glock pistols after testing and safety concerns about the previously issued SIG P320 models.

Why it matters: City staff and public commenters framed the change as an officer-safety and liability issue. A local resident and former law-enforcement officer, Roger Helms, told the commission he supported the switch, citing known drop-fire concerns associated with earlier P320 configurations. Police staff said federal law-enforcement agencies and other local jurisdictions have also raised concerns and that the department changed course after receiving new information.

Procurement and rollout: Chief Smith said the approved transfer covers an initial tranche of replacements that will outfit roughly half the department in the near term; the department plans additional purchases through the 2026 capital-improvement plan to reach a full replacement of approximately 150 service pistols. Staff described the purchase as phased: an initial procurement now and further purchases in 2026 to complete the changeover. Officials said the department will retain the remaining SIG pistols until they can be traded in or otherwise disposed of during later phases.

Costs and justification: Commission paperwork and staff discussion compared prior unit costs for the SIG pistols with higher per-unit costs for the Glock option; police staff said the department tested options and recommended Glock based on safety and reliability. Chief Smith and commissioners emphasized officer safety and the need to act promptly, noting that higher resale/trade-in values may decline the longer the department waits to replace older pistols.

Outcome: The motion to approve the $70,000 budget transfer passed unanimously. Staff said they will pursue the initial procurement immediately and include funding for remaining replacements in next fiscal-year CIP planning.