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San Francisco PD dumps Beratta
http://www.sfexaminer.com/article/index.cfm/i/062404n_pdguns
Trigger unhappy
Cops ditching Beretta for new semi-automatic.
The Police Department is phasing out more than 2,000 of the semi-automatic Beretta handguns issued to every police officer and replacing them with another weapon, saying that there were issues with some of the Berettas that could have a minor effect on accuracy.
But a police official said the use of Berettas had never placed the public in danger nor arisen as an issue in any officer-involved shootings of suspects.
Cops first noticed an issue with the Beretta semi-automatics about a year ago at the Police Academy target range and initially corrected it by changing the gun's ammunition and replacing the barrels, said Deputy Chief of Administration Antonio Parra.
Police said the problem was a phenomenon known as "keyholing." Examiner research found that keyholing is the failure of a bullet to remain balanced in flight so that it enters the target sideways, leaving an elongated opening.
"It can minorly affect the accuracy of a weapon," Parra said.
The issue was noticed in about a half-dozen weapons when officers arrived at the Academy for their mandatory re-qualification in shooting.
Police will start introducing SIG-Sauer guns, like Berettas a .40-caliber weapon, on July 1. The arms will arrive in shipments of about 200 at a time, and it may take up to a year to fully switch to the new weapon, Parra said.
"We are switching to Sig because we feel it's a quality product," Parra said. "We are always looking for the finest tools to give our officers ... this is an upgrade," he said.
Sig, a Swiss company, also gave more responsive customer service than Beretta, an Italian firm, Parra said.
Police have arranged with Sig to dismantle the Berettas and send them to Sig in exchange for a monetary credit of up to $350,000, Parra said.
Cops switched from revolvers to the semi-automatic Berettas back in 1995, in the wake of the slaying of Police Officer James Guelff. Police did consider selecting Sigs guns at the time, but Beretta was a more competitive bidder.
Police Commission president Louise Renne has raised concerns about where redundant police weapons would wind up.
In her former role as city attorney, Renne sued gun manufacturers, charging that they supplied arms to dealers who knowingly sold to criminals.
"I have a very strong prejudice against gun manufacturers. There is strong evidence in a lot of cases that gun manufacturers are not limiting their sales to the Police Department," Renne said.
Parra said the registration numbers of the existing Berettas would be destroyed and the new Sigs' numbers would be registered with the Department of Justice.
The City Attorney was "looking at the legal issues" involving Beretta as the manufacturer, Parra said, but didn't elaborate.
Beretta USA did not return calls seeking comment.
BTW Can you believe this?
http://www.sfexaminer.com/article/index.cfm/i/062404n_pdguns
Trigger unhappy
Cops ditching Beretta for new semi-automatic.
The Police Department is phasing out more than 2,000 of the semi-automatic Beretta handguns issued to every police officer and replacing them with another weapon, saying that there were issues with some of the Berettas that could have a minor effect on accuracy.
But a police official said the use of Berettas had never placed the public in danger nor arisen as an issue in any officer-involved shootings of suspects.
Cops first noticed an issue with the Beretta semi-automatics about a year ago at the Police Academy target range and initially corrected it by changing the gun's ammunition and replacing the barrels, said Deputy Chief of Administration Antonio Parra.
Police said the problem was a phenomenon known as "keyholing." Examiner research found that keyholing is the failure of a bullet to remain balanced in flight so that it enters the target sideways, leaving an elongated opening.
"It can minorly affect the accuracy of a weapon," Parra said.
The issue was noticed in about a half-dozen weapons when officers arrived at the Academy for their mandatory re-qualification in shooting.
Police will start introducing SIG-Sauer guns, like Berettas a .40-caliber weapon, on July 1. The arms will arrive in shipments of about 200 at a time, and it may take up to a year to fully switch to the new weapon, Parra said.
"We are switching to Sig because we feel it's a quality product," Parra said. "We are always looking for the finest tools to give our officers ... this is an upgrade," he said.
Sig, a Swiss company, also gave more responsive customer service than Beretta, an Italian firm, Parra said.
Police have arranged with Sig to dismantle the Berettas and send them to Sig in exchange for a monetary credit of up to $350,000, Parra said.
Cops switched from revolvers to the semi-automatic Berettas back in 1995, in the wake of the slaying of Police Officer James Guelff. Police did consider selecting Sigs guns at the time, but Beretta was a more competitive bidder.
Police Commission president Louise Renne has raised concerns about where redundant police weapons would wind up.
In her former role as city attorney, Renne sued gun manufacturers, charging that they supplied arms to dealers who knowingly sold to criminals.
"I have a very strong prejudice against gun manufacturers. There is strong evidence in a lot of cases that gun manufacturers are not limiting their sales to the Police Department," Renne said.
Parra said the registration numbers of the existing Berettas would be destroyed and the new Sigs' numbers would be registered with the Department of Justice.
The City Attorney was "looking at the legal issues" involving Beretta as the manufacturer, Parra said, but didn't elaborate.
Beretta USA did not return calls seeking comment.
BTW Can you believe this?
Oh, the horror!! I sure hope she doesn't write to her Senator and let her know that.....
