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Senate Judiciary advances bill to speed return of officers' firearms after investigations
Summary
The Senate Judiciary Committee advanced Senate Bill 288, which would require quicker return of law‑enforcement firearms once investigations conclude; supporters said long delays force small agencies to buy costly replacements, while law‑enforcement investigators cautioned returns hinge on investigation completion.
The Senate Judiciary Committee on the morning of the hearing advanced Senate Bill 288, a measure sponsored by Sen. Dan Loege that would create a clearer process for returning firearms seized from officers after investigations.
Loege, the bill's sponsor, told the committee the measure is aimed at helping small counties and agencies that may lack budgets to replace weapons officers commonly purchase themselves. "What this bill does is try to speed up the process of getting our weapons back once the investigation is done," he said.
Proponents described months‑ or years‑long waits for weapons and accessories to be released. Dan Smith, executive director of the Montana Police Protective Association, said many agencies cannot afford high‑quality duty weapons and allow officers to…
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