ALBANY, Ga. (WALB) - The Albany Police Department (APD) collected 142 weapons during a gun buyback event aimed at reducing firearms on city streets.

The department offered $100 per weapon with no questions asked. APD Chief Michael Persley said the initiative helps protect the community in multiple ways.

“You know it helps the community in ways we may not know for example someone doesn’t become a victim of a burglary or have their weapon stolen from them and as I motioned before opportunities for any accidental discharges where children are playing around with a weapon,” Persley said.

After collection, officers check each weapon to determine if it was stolen or involved in a crime. Weapons that don’t fit those categories are destroyed.

Persley said demand for the program extends beyond Albany, with residents from other communities participating.

“Everyone has their own perspective on it I’m all about the protection and safety of this community as a matter of fact we’ve had people from other communities come through so to even those who may be the naysayers in your respective community there is a need and people will come turn in weapons that they don’t want that they don’t need,” he said.

Community members expressed support for the program, saying removing even one weapon from the streets justifies the effort.

“They actually work you know we can never get it all that’s like a person trying to get all the money in the world you can never get every coin so the more we get back the better we are,” one participant said.

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