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Umatilla County OKs transition to 9mm pistols with optics and approves vehicle radar replacements
Summary
The Board of Commissioners approved purchases to modernize sheriff's office firearms—moving to 9mm Glocks with optics—and to replace aging in-vehicle radar units as part of a larger vehicle upfitting program.
Umatilla County commissioners on Sept. 17 approved the sheriff's requests to begin replacing duty pistols with 9mm Glock pistols equipped with optics and to purchase additional in-vehicle radar units as part of ongoing vehicle upfitting.
The purchases were presented by Paul Wolverton of the sheriff's office. "What you have before you this morning from us is a request for weapons purchase. This will be, something that I put in, this fiscal year's budget is to incrementally change over our duty firearms, that's our pistols, from the 40 millimeter Glocks to the 9 millimeter Glocks," Wolverton told the board.
Wolverton said the sheriff's office plans to buy 10 Glocks for the criminal division this year and that the reserves plan a similar purchase from their budget. He described industry practice moving toward optics on pistols and the county's decision to adopt a pistol-and-optic package offered by Glock (which Wolverton said has a partner for optics). Wolverton said holsters modified for optic carry can also accommodate an open sight, allowing deputies who prefer iron sights to continue to do so.
On vehicle equipment, the board approved purchasing additional radar units to complete upfitting of several vehicles. Commissioners and staff discussed why new units are needed: several existing radar units have failed or are very old and not all vehicles yet have installed radar. John Roberts, a county staff member who spoke on vehicle outfitting, said the two technologies (radar and lidar) are different and that the county is supplementing, not replacing, tools: "That that wasn't a changeover. That was supplementing. So they're fundamentally different technologies. Radar uses radio waves and can be used with vehicle in motion. The lidar is stationary."
County administrators said the radar purchases are part of an ongoing program that used to be bundled with vehicle leases; because procurement is being handled differently now, staff requested equipment purchases separately. Roberts and other staff said installation costs are minimal as radar wiring and equipment are installed during vehicle upfitting and that the purchase was being made in part because the vendor offered a buy-three-get-four pricing arrangement.
The board voted to approve both purchases by voice vote; no roll-call tallies were provided in the meeting record.
The sheriff's office and fleet staff were asked to provide a clearer inventory and timeline so commissioners can see how many more units will be needed in future years.
