Mayor Pro Tem Spears signals opposition to Wilmington police rifle transition; police chief says department is 'behind the curve'

Mayor Pro Tem Spears said he will oppose a proposed resolution to authorize the Wilmington Police Department to transition from shotguns to patrol rifles, calling the timing "not right" amid ongoing community questions and investigations. "I just don't think the timing is right for us to have this on the agenda... I'll be in opposition of it," he said.

The item, listed as C‑4 on the council's pre‑agenda, would authorize funding to move the department from issuing 12‑gauge shotguns in patrol cars to providing a consistent long‑barrel rifle platform. The pre‑agenda review took place with no vote; the resolution is scheduled for consideration at the council's next meeting.

The city's police chief told council members the department is "very bluntly extremely behind the curve," citing the 1997 North Hollywood bank shooting as an example of why patrol rifles can be necessary. "We issue all of our officers the same handgun. We want to make sure all of our officers have the same long barrel weapon as well," the chief said, arguing that rifles offer greater accuracy and range than 12‑gauge shotguns and help keep officers and community members safer.

Council members asked whether neighboring agencies — including the county sheriff's department — allow or supply patrol rifles. The chief said he did not have that comparative policy information immediately available but offered to gather it and provide it at the next meeting.

No formal motion to postpone or adopt C‑4 was made during the pre‑agenda discussion. The council will take up the resolution at its next meeting, where members who voiced concerns may vote against it. The pre‑agenda meeting did not include public testimony or a vote on C‑4.