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"We waited a year to get this weapon," said James Sulima, detective/sergeant and coordinator for the SIU.
Former police chief, Greg Policare, who retired from his position on Aug. 31, founded the unit. The SIU handles critical crime investigations within the city as well as working extensively on undercover drug operations with various county and state agencies, Detective Sulima said.
SIU officers tested the submachine gun Tuesday night at the
Pennsylvania Game Commission Range in Thornhurst, where a three-day training and qualifying session is under way for the department's 19 full-time and part-time officers. The sessions are held twice a year at the shooting
range.
Each officer must pass the qualifying course with a 75 percent or higher shooting average to carry a weapon within the city. Pittston Patrolman James Noone is the department's firearms instructor. Detective Sulima is range master.
"There is not a man in the department that shoots below 80 percent," Detective Sulima said.
Municipal police departments are required by the state Municipal Police Officers Education and Training Commission to hold one qualifying session per year. Pittston's second session is hosted voluntarily by the department to
help officers become more proficient with carrying and using a firearm.
"We feel that shooting once a year at a paper target isn't good
enough," Detective Sulima said. "God forbid we have to shoot our weapons. We need to be prepared, both physically and mentally."
Each full- and part-time officer is required to go through the qualification session this week using a Glock 23, the standard firearm issued by the department. However, only a handful of SIU officers, including Detective Sulima, Patrolman Noone and Sgt. Jeff Tyoun, were afforded the opportunity to test the submachine gun. The same three are expected to become
certified to use the firearm by early next year, Detective Sulima said.
The SIU also recently received a Benelli semiautomatic shotgun. Both firearms are used by the department for undercover drug operations, Detective Sulima said. Both are also becoming increasingly more needed as an influx
Of drug traffic from Philadelphia and New York begins to infiltrate the area.
"They are bringing their knowledge from the big city here. We have to be ready to combat that with our technology," Detective Sulima said.
"Obviously, as we get more involved with drug operations, we felt the need to expand."
Both weapons are for use in close-quarter combat such as drug search warrants, Detective Sulima said.
"If we know there is going to be weapons involved, obviously we are going to bring our own and we want to be prepared," he said.
The SIU is also looking to acquire long-perimeter weapons for use in critical incident situations, Detective Sulima said.
"We thank the mayor and the current administration for working with us. It is important to have the administration behind us to do this type of training," Detective Sulima said. "We are just laying the groundwork for the future. With our administration and where it is going, we're lucky to have these weapons."
