Windham Police Chief Rick Lewsen told the town council this week that he wants $10,000 for training and equipment to deal with armed standoffs.

Town council member Liz Wisecup said approving the request is a “no-brainer.”

Lewsen wants the money factored into next year’s budget. The proposal would train all 26 Windham officers to use tactics and body armor against heavily armed criminals and provide enough equipment for five to use at one time.

When an armed standoff occurs, like the recent one with a Windham man in Augusta, local police surround the building and await a State Police tactical unit to arrive.

Lewsen said one police officer is needed to watch over each corner of a building, which is typically four, and a fifth is needed to command the team.

If a standoff turns into an active shooting before the state police arrived, Lewsen said his officers would have no choice but to storm the building, and the body armor Windham police use can only stop small handgun fire.

Lewsen said the entire department would be able to use the equipment, although he is only asking for enough to equip five.

“I hope if we buy this stuff, that it is a waste of money,” said Town Councilor David Tobin, hoping that Windham is prepared to meet tragedies that never happen.

Armor1: Windham Police Officer Matt checks the cartridge chamber of an AK-47 assault rifle at Tuesday’s town council meeting. It was seized during a drug raid in Windham and Cyr said a round fired from the weapon would pass effortlessly through the vests worn by Windham Police.Armor2: Town Councilor Lloyd Bennett holds a heavy kevlar vest at Tuesday’s meeting. Police Chief Rick Lewsen wants $10,000 to be added to next year’s budget to purchase equipment and training to deal with armed conflicts.