Meridian looks to purchase handguns with opioid settlement funds

Published 1:06 pm Tuesday, December 30, 2025

The Meridian City Council is weighing a request to approve the purchase of 120 Glock handguns for Meridian Police Department using a portion of the city’s opioid settlement funds.

In a work session Tuesday, Assistant Police Chief Patrick Gale said the firearms will be used by city police officers, reserve officers and fire investigators. The total cost of the purchase is expected to be in the $165,000 to $169,000 range, he said.

“That should cover all of the funds for the Glocks and the holsters for them,” he said.

Earlier in December, the council approved spending $34,000 from opioid settlement funds to purchase a new heart monitor and CPR device for Meridian Fire Department, which will be used when firefighters respond to medical calls.

Councilman Dwayne Davis said he wants to make sure firearms are something the city can use opioid settlement money to buy. When discussing the money previously, he said it wasn’t clear what restrictions are in place.

City Attorney Will Simmons said guidance from the state on how to spend the money is lacking, and Meridian is not alone in trying to be cautious. Initially, he said, an Attorney General’s opinion said cities could spend the money on anything. That was overturned by a second opinion saying cities need to get approval from the State Auditor to spend the funds.

“The answer is there’s not a lot of guidance, unfortunately,” he said.

Gale said MPD has been in contact with the State Auditor and has a paper trail the city can use in the event it needs to explain its decision. Emails and other documentation between state and local officials will be included in the council’s packet for its next meeting and can be included in the minutes as well.

As part of the purchase, the police department will turn in its current firearms minus those purchased by retired officers and any involved in ongoing investigations.

Fire Chief Michael Evans said he was notified additional opioid settlement funding will be available in April.