HPD officers own their firearms. I'm pretty sure private security guards have to own their firearms also. I don't think they are registered to the business.

Who told you that HPD owns their firearms?  They keep em, but it's city property.

An officer I know said they have a firearm allowance ($) and he has to buy his own AR.

An officer I know said they have a firearm allowance ($) and he has to buy his own AR.

My cousin confirmed this today: if they want to carry an AR in their squad vehicle, they have to purchase it themselves, with their own money.

Currently, the standard issue firearm for Honolulu Police Officers is the Smith & Wesson Model 5906 chambered in 9mm. For their service weapon, officers are not allowed to carry anything other than the standard sidearm but officers are eligible for weapons allowances to purchase handguns (as backup weapons or off-duty carry), rifles, and shotguns.

Approved long guns can be the AR-15 rifle, Remington 870 or Benelli M1 (Super 90) shotgun. Although most Officers carry their own personal long guns while on duty, respective stations throughout the island have a small arsenal of AR-15 rifles and less than lethal shotguns in the event they are needed.

Starting in 2014, the Honolulu Police department will start to implement a 3 year plan to replace their older Smith & Wesson Model 5906 (which are no longer in production) with the Glock 17.

My cousin confirmed this today: if they want to carry an AR in their squad vehicle, they have to purchase it themselves, with their own money.

Are they getting dept letters so that they can be SBR / NFA? or just standard

Who told you that HPD owns their firearms?  They keep em, but it's city property.


OP: I have had some issues with HPD playing games with this.  They would not register the guns to HDF; They wouldn't register guns to us either even though HDF is a C&R FFL.   I just never had the time to sue them for it. THey allow shooting galleries, FFL's and security companies to register into the companies name.

There is a weapons and uniform allowance.  Uniforms are not 100% purchased.  Boots, dry cleaning etc is not paid.  No allotment for training ammo on the Officers own time.  While they might get lucky to get some ammo here and there, they need to purchase their own ammo to practice.  Stations have AR's and Shotguns that can be drawn out pre-shift but they are not in the best condition, no optics, no sling, no lights.  Like most arsenal or pool weapons they are old, beat up, not well maintained and sights or zero should not be trusted, plus patterning for the shotgun is unknown.  Officers are allowed to purchase certain weapons for supplemental duty use, so some guys buy their own long guns, which is smart as it addresses the above issues.  Long guns are issued to a certain unit and another unit is issued or has SBR's, subguns, Super90's and various precision rifles which are agency owned. The CLEO does not approve NFA items for individual Officer purchase.  I will note that the allowance does not begin to cover the expenses that an Officer might incur annually so much is out of pocket.  If an Officer likes to practice to keep their skills sharp, guaranteed the allowance does not begin to cover costs.