WEST MEMPHIS, ARKANSAS - Police in West Memphis, Arkansas are packing serious heat these days. The department's new AR-15's, high-powered assault rifles, are locked and loaded and ready to be used during routine traffic stops.
Up until recently, West Memphis cops only carried 40-caliber Glocks on their hips and kept shotguns in their patrol cars. But now, many officers have an AR-15 in their arsenal.
After losing two of his men, including son Brandon, to a 16-year-old armed with an AK-47, Chief Bob Paudert says it's time to level the playing field.
"If Brandon had an AR-15 in his car in his trunk, he'd still be dead," says Chief Paudert. "If Brandon had an AR-15 locked in the seat, he'd still be dead. You have to get out with it, because you never know when the shooting is going to start."
Six months after Sgt. Brandon Paudert and Officer Bill Evans were outgunned by two anti-government cop killers, Chief Paudert wants all of his officers armed and ready for anything.
With Paudert's endorsement and the approval of the West Memphis City Council, the department purchased 30 AR-15's to use out in the field.
"Every officer will stand back when he backs up a fellow officer," Paudert tells abc24.com, "with an AR-15 at the ready. Period. There's going to be some squawk in the community that we're getting machine guns. That's just too bad. That's just the way it is. We're going to protect our officers."
Up until recently, West Memphis cops only carried 40-caliber Glocks on their hips and kept shotguns in their patrol cars. But now, many officers have an AR-15 in their arsenal.
After losing two of his men, including son Brandon, to a 16-year-old armed with an AK-47, Chief Bob Paudert says it's time to level the playing field.
"If Brandon had an AR-15 in his car in his trunk, he'd still be dead," says Chief Paudert. "If Brandon had an AR-15 locked in the seat, he'd still be dead. You have to get out with it, because you never know when the shooting is going to start."
Six months after Sgt. Brandon Paudert and Officer Bill Evans were outgunned by two anti-government cop killers, Chief Paudert wants all of his officers armed and ready for anything.
With Paudert's endorsement and the approval of the West Memphis City Council, the department purchased 30 AR-15's to use out in the field.
"Every officer will stand back when he backs up a fellow officer," Paudert tells abc24.com, "with an AR-15 at the ready. Period. There's going to be some squawk in the community that we're getting machine guns. That's just too bad. That's just the way it is. We're going to protect our officers."
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