It's Mr. Tuffey's contention that the dozens of machine guns that had been illegally purchased by Albany cops more than a decade ago had been recovered and destroyed. His statement to that effect before the Common Council last month was quite reassuring to some of his most critical constituents of all.

"He stated to us that they had all been recovered and destroyed," recalls Councilman James Scalzo, chairman of the Public Safety Committee.

But were they?

Mr. Tuffey's statements have been contradicted by two sources, who say there are guns that are still missing. This specific assertion -- "I know we destroyed 42 weapons" -- has been contradicted by one of those sources, who says more than 42 weapons were involved.

No police chief can afford to be caught up in this sort of war of words, not regarding a matter this serious. Mr. Tuffey needs to understand that, and he needs to stop blaming the Times Union for the awkward predicament in which he finds himself.

Tuffey also told the committee the guns had never been deployed in the line of duty. "There was no policy to use those weapons," the chief said. "None of those weapons were ever used in the official (line of duty). ... We never owned those weapons, ever."

His statements contradict claims made by city officials last year that the fully-automatic weapons were part of the department's arsenal and used in crime-fighting. The city made that argument while denying a Freedom of Information Law request by the Times Union to review records related to the purchases.

"Disclosing the weapons that are used by the police force in fighting crime in the city of Albany could endanger the life of the officers using them against criminals," the city wrote.