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Moorhead council approves sale of surplus police handguns after tense debate over auctioning accessories
Summary
The council voted 6–2 to approve a resolution to sell decommissioned department handguns through a licensed dealer and offer holsters and lights to officers, rejecting an amendment that would have barred auctioning unsold accessories amid safety concerns.
The Moorhead City Council approved a resolution to declare older department handguns surplus and sell them through a licensed firearms dealer, following a heated debate over whether holsters and tactical lights should be sold at auction if not purchased by officers.
Chief Helmeke told the council the department recently purchased new handguns and that Northern Plains Gun Works would handle trade‑ins and sales as a licensed dealer. He said officers who wished to buy their previous duty weapon could do so through the dealer, and non‑firearm accessories could be offered to officers directly; unsold accessories were proposed to be auctioned or properly disposed.
Council Member Deb White proposed an amendment to prohibit auctioning holsters and weapon lights if officers declined to purchase them, saying the change was a modest response to recent crimes in the state where an assailant impersonated an officer. "I would hate to have it on our conscience that we sold something that was used...to impersonate a police officer," White said.
Chief Helmeke and other council members countered that the holsters and lights are commercially available and not unique to the department. He noted holsters would fit common models and lights are sold widely online and in retail stores.
That amendment failed by roll call vote (four in favor, four opposed; it required six votes to pass). Council then moved to adopt the resolution as presented. The final roll call produced six votes in favor and two opposed; the council chair announced the motion carried. The resolution directs sale of firearms to the licensed dealer, allows officers to purchase accessories directly, and authorizes auction or disposal of any unsold accessories.
Following the vote, several council members acknowledged the emotional context behind White’s proposal, referencing recent violent impersonation incidents and the resulting community concern, while others emphasized the city's existing practice of using licensed dealers to manage firearm disposition. Council members urged staff and the police department to consider additional safeguards and community education where feasible.
The resolution will allow the police department to complete the transition to new duty weapons and to dispose of legacy equipment through established channels.
