CHARLESTON W.Va. (WVDN) – State Treasurer Riley Moore today announced his Office raised more than $176,000 for several state and local law enforcement agencies during its 12th unclaimed property firearms auction conducted Thursday, Sept. 12, in Charleston.
The event raised $176,770 to benefit the 18 participating law enforcement agencies – upholding the previous record of more than $141,000 raised during the March 2023 firearms auction.
There were 307 lots consisting of 627 firearms and 300 pounds of ammunition up for bid, making it the largest inventory for the firearms auction in Office history. The event raises funds by selling outdated, unclaimed or old firearms, ammunition and related accessories in police inventory to qualified bidders.
“Since being elected as State Treasurer, my Office has raised more than $753,000 for law enforcement agencies across the state,” Treasurer Moore said. “It’s imperative that the brave men and women who serve in our state’s law enforcement have sufficient funding to purchase safety and training equipment. I’m proud my Office’s firearm auction program has expanded its reach and continues to grow each year to benefit state and local law enforcement.”
Since 2014, the State Treasurer’s Office has conducted 12 firearm auctions.
Under West Virginia’s Unclaimed Property Code (Chapter 36, Article 8A), state and local law enforcement agencies are allowed to turn over any unclaimed, seized or outdated firearms in their possession to the State Treasurer’s Office for auction.
These include weapons that are older and no longer used by a department, or that have been seized as evidence and sitting in storage rooms for an extended amount of time following the disposition of a case. They can also include weapons taken from individuals who are not legally allowed to own firearms.
Once law enforcement certifies they cannot find a lawful owner of the firearms, they can be turned over to the Treasurer’s Office for auction.
The proceeds from the auction can then be returned to the submitting agency for use.
There were 63 federally licensed firearms dealers, including 26 new dealers, from six states registered to bid for the auction. Bidders were required to be a valid, licensed federal firearms dealer to participate in the auction. The event was not open to the general public.
The 18 participating law enforcement agencies included:
- Berkeley County Sheriff’s Department
- Clarksburg Police Department
- Elkins Police Department
- Gilbert Police Department
- Hardy County Sheriff’s Office
- Hardy County Drug Task Force
- Huntington Police Department
- Jackson County Sheriff’s Department
- Monongalia County Sheriff’s Department
- Moorefield Police Department
- Mountain Region Drug & Violent Crime Task Force
- Raleigh County Sheriff’s Department
- Randolph County Sheriff’s Department
- Wetzel County Sheriff’s Office
- Wheeling Police Department
- West Virginia State Police – Bluefield, Bridgeport and Weston detachments
