Police Carrying New "Urban Rifles"

Some Chattanooga Police Department are carrying new Bushmaster "Urban Rifles," and more will soon be on the streets.

The Chattanooga Police Department used Federal Asset Forfeiture Funds to purchase enough Bushmaster .223 caliber rifles recently. The department has been deploying rifles in patrol and investigations for over a year. Officers currently carrying them have completed a special two-day training course. More Urban Rifles are to be distributed, all of which carrying special Chattanooga Police dept. engraving for identification purposes.

Spokesperson Lt. Kim Noorbergen said, "With the nationwide increase in school and workplace violence, and the propensity for criminals to arm themselves with shoulder weapons, the Chattanooga Police Department feels that by equipping officers with these rifles, we'll be better able to protect the public should the need arise."

The department will hold a demonstration of the new rifles for the media on Wednesday.