Top Stories

• Aug 25, 2005 4:58 pm US/Eastern
• Digg | Facebook | E-mail

  Close WindowE-mail This Page

  NYPD To Use High-Powered Rifle From Helicopters

  Required fields are marked with an asterisk(*)

  ---

  • Recipient E-mail:* 
  • • Your Name:* 
    • Your E-mail:* 
  • Add a Message:
  •   Send me a copy of this e-mail.

  • Type the characters in this picture:* Click here to refresh with new letters

  ---

  The information you provide will be used only to send the requested e-mail and will not be used to send any other e-mail communications. Read more in our Privacy Policy

  Send E-mail

  | Print

NYPD To Use High-Powered Rifle From Helicopters

NEW YORK (CBS) ― The NYPD has been quietly training police officers in the aviation unit on use of the .50 caliber sniper rifle. Today, the mayor admitted the department bought the battlefield weapons after the September 11th attacks. Sources say soon, the guns will be on board three of the department's helicopters.

It is one of the world's most powerful combat weapons. The Barrett .50 caliber semi-automatic rifle can hit a target from more than a mile away. The NYPD has these weapons and plans to put them on their air and sea rescue helicopters by the end of the year. Today, the mayor talked about the reasoning behind this decision.

"We know that we live in a dangerous world, and we will do everything we can to protect this city," Bloomberg said.

Sources say the guns will be on removable mounts in the NYPD aviation unit's three Bell 412EP helicopters. These are the same helicopters that are used for dramatic air sea rescues. And the reason for the high-powered rifles on board is clear: to intercept boats and planes.

Terrorism expert Joseph King of John Jay College says in the event of an attack by sea or air, the NYPD would need substantial firepower.

"The idea of having the weapon in your arsenal is a very good idea. You need to stop it. And you won't stop it with a sidearm. You need some kind of forceful weapon," King said.

And the .50 caliber Barrett is forceful. It can do a lot of damage and has the potential to take down a plane and could easily disable a boat.

"Anybody who's thinking of striking this city should know that we have at our disposal a lot of equipment," said Bloomberg.

The NYPD is one of the best-equipped police departments in the world. But it's not the only police department that has purchased the Barrrett rifles. The company wouldn't name them, but says more and more departments are buying the high-powered weapons at a cosr of about $9000 each.

(© MMV, CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved.)