The Bonney Lake Police Department has received a donation of more than $8,000 in weapons.

According to Police Chief Mike Mitchell the donation is the result of a “sad, sad story” that resulted from the suicide of a law enforcement official about six months ago in Auburn.

Bonney Lake was involved in the investigation into the suicide and Mitchell said when the department contacted the family about the deceased’s rather large collection of weapons, the family did not want them.

Mitchell said the family members, Steve and Dena Wirt of Bay City, Mich., felt the best use of the weapons would be to go to a police department.

The couple’s only stipulation is that none of the weapons will be sold if they are not put into service and they must be destroyed when they reach the end of their useful life.

Among the collection are nine handguns, including revolvers and semi-automatic weapons of multiple sizes and calibers, two shotguns and a semi-automatic rifle that is the same make as those used by the department.

Along with the weapons are a pair of magazines for ammunition as well as a large supply of ammo, two rifLe cases and two gun holsters with a belt.

Also included is a ghillie suit, the camouflage outfit usually used by snipers to help them blend in with their environment.

Councilman Mark Hamilton said at the Aug. 10 city council meeting he estimated value of the entire donation was $8,250.

Mitchell said the department can use all of the weapons and ammunition and the donation would allow the police to save money in outfitting new officers.

“It would keep us from having to purchase weapons,” he said, adding that the ghillie suit would probably be given to members of the Metro SWAT team.

The Wirts could not be reached for comment.