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The Canadian Champion, Tuesday, May 1, 2001-7 Mounties donate gun-cleaning device to Halton By HOWARD MOZEL Thanks to the RCMP, the Halton Regional Police Service has entered a new age of clean. In recognition of the partner- ship that allows RCMP officers to train at the local firing range, the Mounties have donated a $10,000 L&R Ultrasonic Cleaning Device. This will be placed in the range to allow officers from both services to more thoroughly clean their firearms after use, a critical component for ensuring officer safety. The system provides labour- free cleaning and lubrication of firearms in less than 15-minutes - a fraction of the average 70 minutes it now takes, said Halton Regional Police Const. Brian Carr. "They're clean as a whistle," he said. At Thursday's Halton Regional Police Services Board meeting, RCMP Insp. Peter Goulet said the device is a token of his force's apprecia- tion. "Partnerships are extremely important in today's world," said Insp. Goulet. "It's not the colour of the uniform. We have to get out and do the job." RCMP Milton detachment officers receive regular training Halton Regional Police head- rather than disassemble guns Oakville. This is part of an cleaning the old fashioned way. overall bid by police agencies to partner in order to be cost effective. Halton police Chief Ean Algar said his officers possess a "tremendous working rela- tionship" with the RCMP and explained that additional shar- ing programs are on the way. "It's a very proud past we have," said ChiefAlgar. Added services board Chair Jack Brewer: "We really enjoy this relationship." Insp. Goulet explained that the old police service revolvers were of a much simpler con- struction than the newer semi- automatic pistols and therefore were easier to clean. With so many moving pans, he said the current guns have a tendency to jam if not kept meticulously clean. "It is an officer safety factor," said Insp. Goulet. "You need to guarantee the gun will fire when you need them." In recent years, Halton offi- cers replaced their .38 calibre Smith and Wesson revolvers with the Beretta Centurian .40 calibre semi-automatic pistol. The L&R Ultrasonic Cleaning Device requires offi- cers to "field strip" their at the indoor shooting range at weapons into about six parts, Instead of using screwdrivers and brushes, officers need only place guns in a basket and sub- merse them in a gun cleaning fluid. Ultrasonic waves quickly rid even the smallest crevice of light rust, powder, built-up car- bon and diri. The second stage involves immersion in a lubricating solu- tion that displaces all traces of water and leaves the weapon with a uniform, dry lubrication. Const. Carr expects the device to be used by firing range class- es of about 14 to 16 officers as part of their annual use-of-force training. The firearms of about 460 officers will be cleaned each year. expectmore *aVENIum expectmore value and selection at