State Treasurer Larry Pack on Tuesday presented more than $16,000 in unclaimed property funds to the Parkersburg Police Department in connection with the West Virginia Treasury’s February online firearms auction.

“Safer communities are crucial to attracting, retaining and helping families prosper. That means we need to support our law enforcement by finding additional funding by any means necessary. Holding online gun auctions to clear out evidence rooms are one piece of that puzzle,” Treasurer Pack said. “My office will continue to support our law enforcement agencies as we modernize our Unclaimed Property Program and return monies back to West Virginians at a record pace.”

Treasurer Pack presented $16,149.12 to Parkersburg Police Chief Matthew Board during a check presentation Tuesday morning. Parkersburg Police sold 122 firearms during the February online firearms auction.

“The money means a lot. In the law enforcement world, we are generally not at all profit driven,” Chief Board said. “It’s great to be able to go out and get equipment with and get training with to enhance our police department, so whenever we get an addition like this, we make sure we are very frugal with it and ensure that it goes to a purpose that will enhance the services we provide the city.” 

Treasurer Pack recently announced the winning bid amount from the February online firearms auction was $82,299.10 placed from a federal firearm licensed dealer in Georgia. There were 527 firearms sold from 19 law enforcement agencies across West Virginia that were up for bid. More than 18 bids were submitted from licensed dealers spanning across ten states. 

Last year, the Treasurer’s Office sold 2,347 firearms for a total of $452,073 from one in-person live auction and five online auctions. Winning bids came from federal licensed firearms dealers in Pennsylvania, Tennessee, West Virginia, and Georgia.

More information about State Treasurer’s Office’s firearms auctions is available at www.wvtreasury.gov/FFL-Auction.