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Montana bill would speed return of officers' firearms after investigations
Summary
Supporters told the Senate Judiciary Committee that long evidence holds on firearms after officer-involved shootings have left small agencies without duty weapons and forced expensive replacements; bill would require faster returns once criminal or coroner investigations are complete.
Senator Dan Loge, sponsor of Senate Bill 288, told the Senate Judiciary Committee the bill is intended to speed the return of firearms seized as evidence in officer-involved investigations so small county agencies do not have to buy costly replacement weapons. "They're not getting their weapons back in a timely fashion," Loge said, and that delay can force departments to replace rifles that can cost thousands of dollars.
The nut graf: proponents — including the Montana Police Protective Association, county sheriffs and an undersheriff — described repeated cases in which evidence holds lasted months or years, leaving small agencies short on operational weapons and forcing officers to carry personally owned firearms.
Dan Smith, executiv…
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