(LAGRANGE) - Police in the Town of LaGrange will be better prepared if the worst should happen after the Town Board approved the purchase of $36,000 worth of new gear.

With society changing, Marshal Rich Snyder said his department needs to think more tactically. His first request was to upgrade each officer’s handgun to a Glock 45 with integrated red dot sights. Synder says the sights automatically come on when the gun is raised and will go to sleep when not in use. When it comes on it will adjust to the light in the area.

Each handgun and sight would cost $1,018.00.

Officers also have an AR-15 rifle. Snyder wants to keep the AR-15’s and also equip officers with a new 9 millimeter rifle more suited to a town environment. Snyder says this is the weapon they need in town with houses, apartments and buildings so close. They are faster to pull up and the rounds won't go through a wall into another room. It also uses the same magazine as the Glock.

Each new rifle with red dot sight is $860.00.

The board also authorized the purchase of refurbished portable two-way radios for each officer at $2,620 a piece, and two portable radar speed indication signs at $3,448 each.

Snyder reported the department received two new radars for its participation in Operation Pullover at no cost to the town.