Police department issued weapons

[MudPuppy]

This was the first time I'd ever heard of an LEA being able to get pistols from the FED assistance program. these pistols were straight G.I. spec, but they were in "like new condition" nearly perfect condition, the Feds really hooked them up w/ great guns in great condition!.....beautiful!!

Off topic, but that's amazing. When I was in service (80s) our issue 45s were rough and loose. I heard at the time that no new 45s had been made for general issue since WWII! (Delta and other hush hush units being the exception). I guess that had a stash "put back"! Just like the military...

 

[USMCDK]

I am familiar with some to few of the PD's here in New England and from what I have seen, it's mandated by the department which you carry just like in the military, for uniformity and all that political jazz.

I would have to agree that it should be the officers prefference on the matter but at the same time it's due to Insurance liabilities and all that other political jazz (oops I said that twice :banghead

I would have to say that this forum has brought up a very good question and concern (depending on how you look at it)

 

[Ivy Mike]

From what a local LVMPD officer told me, they are issued ammo in the three most popular calibers (9mm, 40S&W, .45ACP) and they have some leeway as to what they can carry.
Or, they can simply use the issued Glock 17.

I don't know how accurate it is considering the source, but thats what I was told.

 

[Cowtown Cop]

It would be in your friends best intrest money wise to wait to purchase a duty gun until after he is out of the police academy and on the street. Most large departments will require you to train in the academy on their issued handgun. My experience in police work was that I got all excited about a new gun and went out and bought one while I was still in the academy. I couldnt transistion to a personally owned gun until after a year on the street. What I found out during that year was that a gun you carry everyday in foot chases and fights and rain and blazing hot weather and getting in and out of a patrol car a MILLION times is really hard on a gun. It gets beat up really fast. This is much easier to bear if it is the departments gun and not your own. Good luck to your friend. Its the best job in the whole world.

 

[IndridCold]

Last I heard the LVMPD issue weapon was the all-time best Smithy 959. Of which No one, and I mean no one actually carried.

 

[Landric]

My full-time department issues the following:

Beretta 96FS with Trijicon Night Sights
Benelli Nova 12 gauge
Ruger Mini-14 stainless Ranch Rifle w/ 20 round mags

Patrol/uniform officers are required to carry the Beretta and have the long guns available in the cruiser.

Our plain clothes officers/detectives have the option of carrying a department issued SIG-Sauer P229 or Beretta 84 instead of the Beretta 96. They are also authorized to carry personal weapons on-duty so long as they are approved by the chief and qualified with. I'd like to see that extended to everyone, but I don't really see that happening. We are not a large department, we are at about 40 sworn right now.

Off-duty and backup guns are pretty much up to us. They just have to be qualified with and approved by the chief. At the moment I carry a S&W 37-2 as a backup and a HK P2000 LEM 9mm off-duty.

My part-time department doesn't issue weapons at all, other than PD issued OC spray. We are required to provide our own duty gear, batons if we want them, and firearms. Pretty much any quality weapon that we can qualify with is OK with the chief. Since I'm a gun nut, I have several, my two duty weapons are:

-S&W M&P45 with Trijicons
-Beretta M9A1 with Trijicons

I carry one or the other, depending on my mood, I have a complete duty rig for both weapons using the same holster and locations for equipment. I also qualified with my Beretta CX4 Storm 9mm since it uses the same magazines as my M9A1. Hopefully I'll get around to purchasing a 5.56mm rifle before qualification rolls around next year. For off-duty and backup I use the same guns that I do at my full-time department.

I hope to be a chief one day. When that day comes I plan to issue one 9mm pistol to everyone. Officers will be allowed to carry personally owned weapons from a vast approved list, but that will require them to provide their own holsters, weapons, and ammunition if the duty weapon they choose is not a 9mm. I hope this will mean that only the shooters will select to carry a personal weapon and the non-shooters will all have the same weapon making it easier for my instructors to teach those who need it.

 

[okiewita40]

My department is a prison so I can only speak for my department even though I am an L.E.O. by state standards and certification. My particular facility issues us a either a Glock 17 or Glock 19. Policy only states a caliber and bullet weight and type. Other facilities use use either glocks or rugers of some type but all in 9mm.

As for the probation&parols officers they can carry anything they can qualify with as long as it is 9mm or larger auto. If they want something other than a 9mm then the officer has to supply thier own ammo for duty and qual's. Also the dept. does not allow FMJ or ball ammo for handguns.

When I was with the sheriff's dept. you could carry anything you wanted as long as it was a .40

 

[Conqueror]

Dept "back home" will either issue you a SIG in .357 SIG, or give you a substantial reimbursement on the sidearm of your choice.

 

[CountGlockula]

In LA:

Sheriff's use Beretta 96FS and PDs use Glock 22s.

 

[Pumpkinheaver]

The local PD here issues SIG 220's to it's officers. Now our sherrif dept is more liberal in it's policys. Most of them use .40's of one flavor or another but some still use .357 revolvers. The sherriff himself carries a 10MM Delta Elite when in uniform.

 

[NWdude83]

Tacoma PD, the first and I believe only PD in 50 years to have a 1911 as their standard issue handgun, the Kimber Pro Carry II in .45ACP