What sidearm for Parkour Cops?

[Puncha]

The police service of the largest city in my country is facing the problem of increasingly well organised and violent mugging and pickpocketing gangs. They are particularly good at escaping from the police through the messy urban terrain.

My cousin is a police lieutenant and he told me that in response to this new law and order challenge, the police brass have made the decision to form a new unit composed of younger officers who used to be parkour/free running enthuseasts before they became cops. The idea is that these unconventional officers would be better able to chase after and apprehend crooks in the urban jungle.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parkour

According to my cousin, it has been decided that these cops will be in plainclothes with a VERY wide latitude given as to what they can wear while on duty. They will also be issued with flex cuffs instead of steel handcuffs, carry ASP batons and be given small Motorolla radios that can be linked to wireless earpieces.

However, it has not been decided what sidearms they will carry. The standard issue for beat cops is a .38 special 5-shot revolver with a 3" barrrel but with two reloads of 10 rounds in total carried in two speedloadeders, the new freerunning/Parkour officers have complained that it is too bulky. Apparently, a decision will soon be made as to what their sidearms will be but if it were up to you, what would you arm these officers with?

Personally, I'd just give them each a H&K P7M8 with an extra magazine and be done with it.

 

[ilikepancakes]

I have absolutely no idea. I think they should be able to pick for themselves...

 

[ArchAngelCD]

They can carry the revolver but strap it to their chest under whatever shirt they are wearing that day.

 

[Brian Williams]

To be able to move freely the important part would be a very secure holster. A 3" revolver with a shoulder holster under their shirt would be concealed and easy to move in.

 

[IlikeSA]

What about a smaller pocket pistol, like a Kel-tec? One could slip that into a zipped up pocket with a pocket holster. Another option would be a small XD, Glock, or even a M&P?

Then again, I guess they'd need to be able to access it quickly...so how about a fanny pack carry slung over the shoulder?

 

[DFW1911]

I think we need to rule out the M-60, but I'm just guessing .

I bet any smallish semi-auto or revolver of SD caliber that can be securely attached to the officer is just fine.

 

[sgt127]

S&W Airwieght Chief or a Kahr PM9. Develop an elastic holster that wraps around their waist and secures with Velcro, like the belly band. Worn under a T-shirt. There, that was easy.

 

[Keauxbi]

I'd say an Kel-Tec P-11 9mm with an extra clip easy to conceal, 10+1 capacity an just over a pound. Plus the Kel-Tec is relatively inexpensive.

 

[CWL]

Personally, I'd just give them each a H&K P7M8 with an extra magazine and be done with it.

The HK P7/M8 is an extremely heavy pistol, especially for its size & ammo capacity. In addition, about 80% of its mass is behind the trigger, making it very difficult to design a reliable holster for it. The only reliable holster would be a flap-style.

Now I love the design and I own 3 of them, but this isn't the right pistol for the types of motion involved in Parkour.

I think a single stack Sig P225 in good Kydex to keep it thin, light and close to the body would be better.

 

[the-ghost]

glock 26 or the like would fit the bill nicely i think. 3 inch kahr something like that.

 

[VA27]

The Kahr 9mm is tailor made for such use. The guns are very flat and lend themselves to about any method of carry the officers choose. They will feed and fire any ammo that you can get into the magazine, including the NATO round.

The guns are (depending on the model chosen) about the same weight as a 3" 38 and the few I've shot were astoundingly accurate and totally reliable. I have no personal experience with the PM9 so I can't speak to the accuracy or reliability of that model.

 

[usp9]

This sounds like the Mod Squad ... a cool, hip idea for a TV show, especially if there's a buxom blond in a skimpy outfit doing the chasing, but a bad idea for actual police work. :banghead:

But your opinion may vary.

 

[Kingofthehill]

From what ive seen of Parkour. Seems like their biggest concern should be how to retain the pistol.

as for the gun, id say let them choose what they are most comfortable with. My choice would probably be a Glock 26/27, M&P 9c/40c, XD9sc, p250, Steyr m9.... Any of them would be my choice

 

[RyanM]

Given that this is in southeast Asia, I'd guess that rust resistance is very important, and that the budget isn't that great (no offense; most police departments in the USA can't even afford H&Ks).

I'd issue them 2" barrel, alloy frame snubnose revolvers, with a completely enclosed hammer. That way the ammo, training, and speedloaders are all exactly the same.

 

[NG VI]

I'd say a Glock 26 with some sort of superb holster.

And I'd also say that this sounds suspiciously like a joke to me.

Or an extremely ill-advised plan.

 

[BCRider]

I'd say that if they were smart they would use a variety of arms. Maybe even some confiscated guns. That way if they need to blend in to these scum groups to make a sting they won't be spotted by the type of gun they have if it becomes noticed. With a variety of guns they'd be able to come up with a story.

So let 'em choose their own guns.

 

[19-3Ben]

Kel-Tec P11.

12+1 capacity, light, small, easy to conceal in a whole bunch of ways.

 

[Sunray]

Like Kingofthehill says, it wouldn't be the issued firearm that'd be the issue. It'd be the holster, the training they'd get using it and doing the Parkour thing. Mind you, the whole thing sounds like some idiot politician's idea.

 

[Puncha]

To Sunray and all:

It most probably IS a politicians idea. The top police brass are nominated to their posts by who ever is in power after winning the last major election. Hence, the chief constables of law enforcement effectively are in many cases, the mouthpieces of the politicos.

 

[Sebastian the Ibis]

high-strength OC spray and batons.

If he has a full tactical alert and permission from the local LEOs a Mossberg 500 with less-lethal rounds and two K-frame Smith .38s loaded with 158gr. LRN.

The “Deadly Duo” of a 27 and 23, each with Bar-Sto .357 bbl.

And he should write a proposal to replace the current Mossberg-Smith armament with the following:

* 3) MP5K-PDW with red-dot sights;
* 2) G36 rifles using SS109 rounds;
* 3) Glock practical tacticles in .357 Sig
* 1) PSG-1 using Fed Gold Medal .308
* 1) Starlight scope for the PSG-1 in case we lose power in the building.
* 3) Glock 27 backup guns
* 3) Kahr P-9 holdouts

Trauma plates on the front back and in a briefcase, a Nef Handi rifle in 300 Win Mag with an 18 in. barrel and a suction cup knee pads.

 

[TeamPrecisionIT]

You forgot the bandana, I mean tourniquet.

Damian