Forest Park council approves public sale of unclaimed firearms from police evidence room after debate

The Forest Park Mayor and Council voted to dispose of unclaimed firearms held in the police department’s evidence room through public sale, following a discussion about safety, revenue and legal requirements.

Council members debated whether selling recovered or unclaimed weapons risked returning firearms to circulation or represented a practical way to recover taxpayer value. Officer Daniels, identified in the meeting as the department’s evidence custodian, told the council the inventory “ranges the gamut” from firearms recovered in poor condition to “highly collectible, antique” weapons and that the inventory totals more than 800 items.

The discussion turned to legal constraints after Associate Attorney Daniel cited state law. “There is a citation 17-5-54 that states that unclaimed firearms in possession of law enforcement agencies must be disposed of through public sale to licensed firearms dealers unless certain exceptions apply,” he said, adding that firearms deemed unsafe or prohibited may be destroyed or transferred for training or experimental purposes.

Council members expressed differing views. Council member Gutierrez, describing himself as a veteran, said he would prefer disposal but would consider the fiscal benefits: “I want to make the most fiscally responsible decision for our department, but I personally don’t… want to put the guns back out there.” Council member Akins Wells said she opposed selling firearms because she did not believe the city should profit from “putting guns back into the street.”

City legal staff explained the disposal process would be a sealed-bid public auction and could not be directed to a specific individual; sales typically go to licensed dealers, possibly out of state, if the city uses a third-party auction service such as propertyroom.com. The council approved the sale by roll-call vote called by the clerk: James—Yes; Gutierrez—Yes; Akins Wells—Yes; Meyers—Yes; Mayor Butler—Yes.

The council did not adopt a specific purchaser restriction during the meeting; staff said firearms deemed unsafe, heavily damaged or otherwise prohibited by federal or state law may be destroyed instead of sold. City staff agreed to provide the statutory citation and a proposed disposal protocol for council review at a later date.

The outcome leaves the mechanics of the auction and any department reinvestment of proceeds to follow-up by city staff and legal counsel.