I went into the Academy in early 1991 and back then I know there were at least two other agencies in California that had trainees carry revolvers; Tustin PD and Pleasanton PD. On the flip side, West Covina issued squeeze cocking H&K P-13’s and El Monte carried stainless Colt 1911’s. My first agency (1991-1994) issued 5906 S&W’s.
My second department here in So Cal (1994-2007) still officially issues 4” Model 66 revolvers, Winchester 110 gr .357 ammo and Hoyt break front holsters as city-supplied duty equipment, but nobody has taken them up on these guns for uniform patrol since the last wheel gunner retired in the late 1990’s. Everyone buys their own duty guns.
One lieutenant there carried a 2.5” Model 66 until retirement in roughly 2014 or so. Today, a few of their Model 66 revolvers were highly polished and are used by the Honor Guard for ceremonial duties.
Thinking back, I may have been the last duty revolver-carrier there. Back in 2005 or so I damaged my shooting hand in a fight. I couldn’t get enough pressure using my thumb to reliably depress slide lock or a mag release, but I could push a cylinder release forward and twist a speed loader knob. For about four months I carried a 686+ 4” 7-shot .357 in a Tex Shoemaker 2” drop swivel holster. Once my hand healed, I went right back to my SIG Sauer P228 and retired my revolver.
Revolvers are great tools and certainly still can be effective in some law enforcement settings, but they have clearly faded away into history for patrol use and aren’t seen often enough to be duty-relevant anymore.
Stay safe.
