NASHVILLE, Tenn. – House Bill 1513, which would allow retired sheriff’s deputies to keep their service weapon when they retire, passed the full Local Government Committee Tuesday with an amendment.
The amendment dictates that a county commission would make a single vote to authorize the sheriff’s office to provide the retiring deputy with his/her service weapon.
“The language of the original bill possibly would have made the county commission vote each time the sheriff made the request which would have been very time consuming and unnecessary,” Rep. Joe Pitts said.
Sheriff John Fuson, an active member of the Tennessee Sheriff’s Association, requested that Rep. Pitts and Sen. Jim Tracy sponsor the legislation on behalf of his retiring deputies.
Under current state law, county-owned property including service weapons used in the line of duty must be sold at auction through a purchasing agent or reused.
Sheriff Fuson said deputies who have spent many years in law enforcement want to be able to keep their weapons upon retirement.
“If it’s a service weapon that a deputy had throughout their career, it’s kind of a gift for them for retirement for their many years of service to the community,” he said. “Hopefully we can get it passed.”