CANTON — A collector’s item that’s been in the town hall vault for decades has financed all new weapons for Canton police officers, including Glock sidearms, shotguns and tasers.

Canton Police Chief Bryan Whitner said the best he can tell, the town came into the possession of a Thompson .45 caliber submachine gun in 1947. Town leaders declared the gun as surplus property, and it was sold for about $25,000

Town Manager Al Matthews said this model of gun, also known as the “Tommy gun” has been featured in Hollywood movies and was carried by gangsters such as Baby Face Nelson and their pursuer, the FBI’s Elliot Ness.

Canton owns three of the collectible-grade weapons, but one doesn’t work, which drops the value by 90 percent or so, he added.

“We knew it was an expensive item,” Matthews said.  ...