The ACLU of Massachusetts posed a question to their followers on facebook: “West Springfield police have two grenade launchers - why?”
Before the turn of the millennium, the West Springfield Police Department received two M79 grenade launchers and seven M14 rifles through a Department of Defense program.
The Department of Defense excess property program, commonly known as the 1033 program, allows the Secretary of Defense to transfer excess DoD equipment and supplies to state and local law enforcement agencies. There is no purchase fee for the program, though agencies are required to pay for any shipping or transportation costs.
Records of the requests show most departments request rifles. Westfield obtained 15 M14 rifles and 19 M16 rifles through the program. Monson received three M14s and three M16s. Springfield was given four M14s.
West Springfield was the only department that received grenade launchers.
Of the grenade launchers, Chief Ronald P. Campurciani said they have never been used in the field nor will they ever be.
"I cannot think of a scenario where we would employ those weapons," Campurciani said.