City of Peru wants Dillinger gun back
PERU, Ind. (WLFI) – Peru police are working to reclaim a Tommy gun seized by Tucson police during a raid in Arizona, but the gun was seized more than 80 years ago from infamous gangster John Dillinger.
Peru city officials said after Dillinger stole the gun in 1933, he used it to rob a bank in East Chicago.
After fleeing to Tucson, Arizona, Dillinger was caught and extradited back to an Indiana prison.
The gun stayed on display in Arizona, but officials hope recently discovered research will bring it back to Peru.
“There’s always that fascination of the ‘John Dillinger days,’” Peru Police Chief Mike Meeks said. “Knowing that he came through here, and that he robbed our police department.”
Meeks said it was during that Oct. 20, 1933, robbery that Dillinger and Harry Pierpont took several weapons including a Colt Thompson submachine gun.
But the gun ended up in Tucson, Arizona; and now more than eight decades later, the city says it wants it back. However, Tucson police are not giving in just yet.
“Their stance is that they’re not exactly sure whether they want to believe it or not,” said Josh Sigler, the Peru Mayor’s administrative assistant.
However, Sigler said the research led him to the proof he needed. He said a book by Gordon Herigstad verifies the gun’s serial number police have on record.
“We’re not looking for a fight, we just feel like it’s our property,” said Sigler.
Meeks said it’s the history behind the gun that makes it so important to the city of Peru.
“We’ve always had the desire to have that gun back at our department,” said Meeks. “We understand that it’s a huge part of history, and it’s a huge part of history for our police department in particular.”
The city is still waiting to verify Herigstad’s research.
Meeks said he hopes Tucson police can understand why the city believes the gun belongs in Peru.
“We understand that they feel that gun belongs to them,” said Meeks. “But ultimately, we hope that we’re able to communicate with them, have them understand and see our side of it, and why that gun is important to us.”
News 18 reached out to Tucson police, but we have not heard back at this time.
But when asked about the gun’s request, Tucson Police Sgt. Pete Dugan told the Associated Press, “We understand it’s a big part of their history, but it’s also a big part of Tucson’s History.”