I am watching a video on BoobTube and it is an interview with the head IMI guy for law enforcement sales.

He is give a demo/sales pitch on the IMI Neev family of belt-fed machine guns.

Law enforcement and belt-fed seems a strange combination.

Is anyone aware on an instance where US law enforcement fired a belt-fed as part of a police action (other than training or demonstrations)?

LA county SEB had m60s at one time, I had heard they were dumping them for m240 but dont know if they did

It's really hard to imagine a practical scenario in which suppressive fire would be prudent in a law-enforcement scenario (where the threat of collateral damage was outweighed by the need to keep the target's head down). Maybe chasing down a fleeing terrorist with a helicopter, but even that is rather extreme.

There are extremely limited situations in which law enforcement would need to use (or would be justified in using) a belt-fed machinegun. I don't know of any instances where they were utilized.

Most of what a belt-fed excels at, such as final protective fire or suppressing fire, are simply not feasible tactics for law enforcement in nearly all situations.

Traditional domestic/local law enforcement officers would have no need. Even SWAT teams would have no need. However, there are a few law enforcement units whose roles could include the need for belt-fed.

The first one that comes to mind is the Texas DPS patrol boats that operate on the border waterways:



I'm also thinking of some of the federal law enforcement units that protect extremely sensitive targets, like Department of Energy Agents at nuclear plants or Diplomatic Security Service Agents at high-risk US embassies, who could conceivably come under a military-style coordinated assault.

And certain protective details, like the Secret Service or Diplomatic Security Service, could conceivably have a need for them for convoys in high risk areas of the world, as a means to break an ambush.

I can imagine that an LE agency would be happy to have a belt fed machine gun available in the event of a Mumbai-type attack with multiple well-armed attackers.

(I’m not saying that such an unlikely possibility would be justification to have one, but if it did happen it might be nice to have such a weapon.)

Yes, extremely limited application. The Texas BP boats are a good use IMO. They could run into some heavily armed cartel and it is sparsely populated area.

Other than that, in an urban area it would have to be an extreme attack like multiple terrorist mass shooters. Even then, sharpshooters seem to make more sense than suppressive fire. M240s and .50 BMGs are also good vehicle stoppers...

Can't imagine Portland police having SAWs...imagine how many homeless bystanders might get shot

Thirty or so years ago in (I think) New Orleans there was a rooftop shooter who was taken out by a door gunner from a military chopper, possibly from Fort Polk.

Not law enforcement per se, but at least some nuclear power plants have or had belt fed hardware.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: DaBigBR,

Agencies should absolutely have belt-feds in inventory. As was previously mentioned, in a Mumbai style attack they'd be a welcomed option. Imagine a scenario in which the opposition has them or if terrorists kill the hostages so there's no threat of collateral damage.

Also, not all belt-feds are created equally. I once owned a HK23E clone. It's essentially a semi-auto sniper rifle or a LMG depending on optics and selector setting. Excellent versatility.

quote:

Originally posted by fnforme:
Agencies should absolutely have belt-feds in inventory. As was previously mentioned, in a Mumbai style attack they'd be a welcomed option. Imagine a scenario in which the opposition has them or if terrorists kill the hostages so there's no threat of collateral damage.

Also, not all belt-feds are created equally. I once owned a HK23E clone. It's essentially a semi-auto sniper rifle or a LMG depending on optics and selector setting. Excellent versatility.

Agreed. LE agencies and private citizens should have beltfeds in inventory.

It is difficult to get .308 semi auto rifles into most agencys I know I have tried. Most admin folks are concerned about over penetration on the 5.56 so when a bigger round is asked for forget it. Most admin will accept a bolt .308 but a happy switch, semi or belt fed not no but, h#!! no. All I was asking for was 2 HK 91's for the bolt gun guys so if the entry team got hit going into a dwelling then the 91's could be used to put up more fire support than a bolt gun could... VI

IIRC FBI HRT had M60s and Sheriff Joe had a .50 cal for down on the border.

As for requirement for them, you have to look at the agency and where it works.

Some nuke plant security teams have mini guns! As mentioned above, the HK family of mg’s Are very accurate when used on semi auto with a scope mounted.

I agree that there is a need for belt fed in law enforcement. Although, as others have stated the need is small.

quote:

Originally posted by Sigmund:
Thirty or so years ago in (I think) New Orleans there was a rooftop shooter who was taken out by a door gunner from a military chopper, possibly from Fort Polk.

It was 1973, more like 44 years ago.

As dusk approached, Essex was trapped in a block house on the hotel roof. The U.S. Marines volunteered a helicopter to get to him. During passes over the roof, officers poured gunfire at the block house while Essex popped out sporadically to fire back.

...Essex's shooting spree ended on the roof of the hotel, where he died with 200 gunshot wounds. The hotel is still open, as a Holiday Inn.

Complete article:

http://www.nola.com/175years/i..._the_howard_joh.html

I see the need but in very, very specialized roles. It will never make it past the biggest hurdle and impediment of all LE and Mil for that matter...a desk with a frowning idiot on post.

We all have a need, albeit small and unlikely.

Call Oprah.

Belt-Feds for everyone!!!

I know of a Nuke that has a goodly number of belt-fed weapons, in three calibers.
If you have ever had a chance to look in the back of a Secret Service war wagon, you were probably pretty astonished at what all you saw.

Two words:
Beaten Zone