(a)        Surviving spouses, or in the event such members die unsurvived by a spouse, surviving children of members of North Carolina State, city, and county law enforcement agencies killed in the line of duty or who are members of such agencies at the time of their deaths, and retiring members of such agencies shall receive upon request and at no cost to them, the badge worn or carried by such deceased or retiring member. The governing body of a law enforcement agency may, in its discretion, also award to a retiring member or surviving relatives as provided herein, upon request, the service side arm of such deceased or retiring members, at a price determined by such governing body, upon determining that the person receiving the weapon is not ineligible to own, possess, or receive a firearm under the provisions of State or federal law, or if the weapon has been rendered incapable of being fired. Governing body shall mean for county and local alcohol beverage control officers, the county or local board of alcoholic control; for all other law enforcement officers with jurisdiction limited to a municipality or town, the city or town council; for all other law enforcement officers with countywide jurisdiction, the board of county commissioners; for all State law enforcement officers, the head of the department.

(b)        Active members of North Carolina State, city, and county law enforcement agencies, upon change of type of weapons, may purchase the weapon worn or carried by such member at a price which shall be the average yield to the State, city, or county from the sale of similar weapons during the preceding year.

(c)        For purposes of this section, certified probation and parole officers shall be considered members of a North Carolina State law enforcement agency. ?(1971, c. 669; 1973, c. 1424; 1975, c. 44; 1977, c. 548; 1979, c. 882; 1987, c. 122; 2013-369, s. 19; 2016-77, s. 9(b); 2021-116, s. 1.3.)