Missing Holyoke police rifle recovered

HOLYOKE, Mass. -- A sniper rifle reported lost by a Holyoke police officer has been recovered while the city's new mayor was along for a ride with officers.

The rifle was recovered Friday night after police received an anonymous tip.

Police Chief James Neiswanger (NICE'-wong-er) says Mayor Alex Morse coincidentally was in one of the police cars that responded.

The rifle went missing Sept. 28. Sgt. John Hart put it in the back of his pickup truck and was on his way to a job when another driver told him his tailgate was down. That's when Hart discovered the rifle was missing.

Hart was suspended five days and ordered to pay the $2,000 cost of replacing the weapon. The chief tells The Republican that Hart will no longer have to repay the city.

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