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All 600 St. Paul Police Officers To Get New Guns

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) -- All 600 St. Paul police officers are getting new firearms, their first large-scale weapon change in about 18 years.

The department is switching from .40-caliber Glocks to a choice of 9mm Glocks or Smith & Wessons.

Police Sgt. Cory Tell says the department's current firearms aren't necessarily outdated, but police want to make sure they're using the most reliable equipment possible.

He says 9mm guns are easier to control than .40-caliber Glocks because they don't have as much recoil.

The guns, plus training, cost $137,000. The nonprofit St. Paul Police Foundation has raised about $80,000 toward the cost, and the department will get some money for trading in its old guns.

The St. Paul Pioneer Press says the department plans to begin training with the new guns this month.

(© Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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