Retiring Montgomery County peace officers can purchase weapons for $50

While the law allowing officers to purchase their handguns is not new, Assistant County Attorney Amy Davidson said during the court's Tuesday meeting that it has recently become applicable to Montgomery County.

In a previous Houston Chronicle , Kevin Lawrence, president of the Texas Municipal Police Association, said the practice of officers purchasing their own weapon was once industry-standard, but departments began shifting because they wanted to ensure officers could pool and share resources in an emergency.

"It's becoming less and less common as the years go by," Lawrence said. "It was pretty standard when I first started. But more and more departments have gone to department-issued firearms."

State law allows retiring peace officers to purchase their service weapons, but counties must set a price that does not exceed fair market value.

County Judge Mark Keough asked about setting the price at fair market value, but Davidson said to do so, each handgun would need to be appraised, and that process would be costly.

"Moving to a standardized issued weapon was a positive move that enhanced safety, consistency, and accountability while helping us better protect our deputies and the public we serve," Spencer said. "With a standard firearm, our training is consistent, our maintenance is simplified, and it's easier for deputies to work together confidently knowing they're all equipped with the same tools."

"This firearm underwent extensive testing to ensure it could handle the challenges of law enforcement work," Spencer said. "Deputies rely on their equipment to be reliable, especially in high-stakes situations, and the Glock met our high standards for performance and durability."