Well, I am surprised. Our police departments need automatic weapons.
Do our National Guard units have automatic weapons?
You have a mass media view of the daily life of a State Trooper. They don’t need automatic weapons for the same reason as anyone else—massive suppressing fire is not a “thing”. Accurate, well placed shots are more effective and it keeps the bystanders from injury.
I am sure their SWAT teams have autos.
In any event the daily life of most officers is uneventful and dealing with idiots.
What for?