VESTAVIA HILLS, Ala. — A local Alabama police department on Tuesday morning sent out a heartfelt thank you to drug dealers for supplying them with funds that allowed them to purchase new firearms.

The Vestavia Hills police department used money from its confiscations fund – money seized during drug arrests or granted to them by a court – to buy 100 new .45ACP caliber pistols. Officers usually have to buy their own service weapons, according to Captain Kevin York, but the department had saved up enough funds to supply the department’s 86 officers with new pistols.

“[The confiscation fund] built up to have enough to buy 100 Glock pistols as well as pistol lights and holsters and issue them to our officers,” York said. Patrol officers were given Glock 41s while Detectives and Administrative personnel received the Glock 30S. The weapons cost approximately $50,000, and lights and holsters added between $20,000 and $30,000.

York added that he wanted to show the public the funds were being put to good use. Confiscated funds can be used for any law enforcement need except salaries.

The Department thanked the drug dealers who provided the funds to buy the guns in a Facebook post this morning:

“The Vestavia Hills Police Department would like to thank all of the local Metro Area Illegal Drug Dealers who contributed to our confiscations fund. Thanks to your efforts and those of our Narcotics Unit and SW.A.T. Team serving Search/Arrest warrants on you, we were able to equip our Officers with Glock Handguns.

Patrol Officers were issued the Glock 41 and Detectives and Admin personnel the Glock 30S, both in the timeless and proven .45ACP caliber. Officers were also issued a Surefire light to mount on their pistol and a holster. All of the handguns were engraved with the Police Department Patch on top of the slide just forward of the rear sight and ‘Vestavia Hills Police’ on the right hand side of the slide. For those we haven’t visited yet, see you soon, armed with our new handguns!”

(h/t al.com)