NEW ROADS, LA – The New Roads Police Department issued an urgent clarification Saturday after one of its own officers allegedly pawned two department-issued firearms, mistakenly believing he was participating in the agency’s “Guns for Cash” program.
“We would like to formally state that the initiative is intended for members of the public turning in illegal or unwanted firearms—not for on-duty officers liquidating department inventory,” the department said in a statement that had to be reissued twice after staff kept laughing.
The now-former officer reportedly turned in at least two service weapons over the course of a week, allegedly netting a few hundred dollars and a store credit voucher “for emergencies.” “It was either this use my unit as an Uber,” he added.
Internal memos show the officer had submitted a request for mileage reimbursement tied to the pawn trips and had labeled his activity as “asset disposal.”
City Hall is vowing to prevent future incidents like this—unless, of course, they turn a profit.
The officer was able to post bond after talking his cousin into pawning his badge, taser and department issued bodycam.
