§20-7-1f. Awarding service weapon to special natural resources police officers upon retirement; disposal of service weapon when replaced due to routine wear; furnishing uniform for burial.

(a) Upon the retirement of any special natural resources police officer selected and appointed pursuant to §20-7-1 of this code, the chief of the officer’s section shall award to the retiring special natural resources police officer his or her service weapon, without charge, upon determining:

(1) That the special natural resources police officer is retiring honorably with at least 25 years of recognized special law enforcement service as determined by the chief natural resources police officer; or

(2) That the special natural resources police officer is retiring with less than 25 years of service based upon a determination that he or she is totally physically disabled as a result of service with the division.

(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of §20-7-1f(a) of this code, the section chief may not award a service weapon to any special natural resources police officer who has been declared mentally incompetent by a licensed physician or any court of law, or who, in the opinion of the chief natural resources police officer constitutes a danger to any person or the community.

(c) Upon the death of any current or honorably retired special natural resources police officer, the respective chief shall, upon request of the deceased officer’s family, furnish a full uniform for burial of the deceased officer.

(d) The disposal of special natural resources police officer service weapons, when replaced due to routine wear, does not fall under the jurisdiction of the agency for surplus property, within the Division of Purchasing of the Department of Administration.  The chief of the section of Parks and Recreation and the chief of the Wildlife Resources Section of the Division of Natural Resources may offer these surplus weapons for sale to any active or retired special natural resources police officer, at fair market value, with the proceeds from any sales used to offset the cost of the new weapon.

(e) Notwithstanding the foregoing, this section does not apply to weapons obtained through the federal donation program operated by the West Virginia State Agency for Surplus Property.