OANGE SI,
I have been through several issue gun changes. When my agency went to the .40 S&W and the BERETTA in the mid 1990's, it took years to complete. We had 4 different divisions and my division had to wait over 2 years before we transitioned. We were sent to a 2 day course where we were issued 600 rounds of REMINGTON hollow point and shot most of it. When I transitioned to the H&K P2000, it was a one day affair and we shot only about 200 rounds. Now we will go to the GLOCK (eventually).
We also spent a lot of time testing the guns. After the first round of tests, ALL THE GUNS FLUNKED! The BERETTA did not pass, the SIG failed and all the others did as well.
We held a second round of testing with revamped guns and ONLY BERETTA and SIG PASSED. We went with BERETTA because they were cheaper. No bribes involved.
BSA,
Different divisions of HOMELAND SECURITY have different needs. Also, it you think you can convince ANY LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY to buy somebody else's choice of equipment, you have never worked for a government agency!
When I traded in my BERETTA 96D Brigadier, the locking lugs were so worn, that the slide was moving slow enough for me to actually see it go back and forth. The H&K'S have not worn out nearly as quick. I had to trade in the gun I was issued in 2006 in 2016, as it had become an unreliable feeder.
So guns do wear out. Especially police guns. You may find an "UNISSUED" item as I did with a BERETTA 96D Brigadier and then again, it may be beaten to death.
There is a lot to the "USE IT OR LOSE ARGUMENT", but it is more than that. After 9-11, many federal agencies took advantage of the "FREE MONEY" to buy new equipment and switched guns to something more modern, more powerful or more popular with the officers.
My agency switched from the BERETTA 96 for several reasons, one was all the complaints from officers who wanted a smaller gun to carry off duty. Now we are going back to the 9m.m., so well will get a lighter, if not smaller gun.
Jim