A western Arizona sheriff's office has been given approval to purchase suppressors to muffle the shots fired from deputies' rifles.
Mohave County supervisors on Monday authorized its sheriff's office to spend nearly $74,000 to buy 90 rifle suppressors.
Chief Deputy Dean McKie told supervisors that rifles equipped with sound suppressors would allow officers to better communicate because they wouldn't be interfered by the use of hearing protection.
McKie noted that the office is seeking to equip each patrol deputy with a suppressor as they are ones most likely to respond to an active shooter report.
Sheriff Doug Schuster says if an officer had to fire an unsuppressed gun inside a building, it risks damaging the hearing of others as well as the officer
