[Ed]

I know that larger police forces run tests, but smaller forces for instance. They usually have less money. Do they just pick what they can afford? Or go by bigger forces recomendations?

[4v50 Gary]

It depends on who has the chief's ear. Sometimes it's the training officer and sometimes it's rangemaster/armorer. Sometimes it's a panel of officers who perform test & evaluations under the auspices of the department. Sometimes it who gets paid off by whom.

[TheeBadOne]

I know that larger police forces run tests, but smaller forces for instance. They usually have less money. Do they just pick what they can afford? Or go by bigger forces recomendations?
Most often a combo of the two.

[Andrew Rothman]

To hear the local gunshop guy, a retired AK state trooper, tell it:

Glock salesman comes in, asks what the five-year old Berettas the force is carrying now cost the department.

Glock salesman agrees to buy the old Berettas at the original purchase price, and sell an equal number of G17s for something-less-than-retail.

Chief thinks: Boy, that's a deal.

And now many departments carry Glocks.

[Spackler]

The little town where I grew up had a policy of letting the officers carry their own sidearms. There were probably some guidelines and restrictions, but basically, the officers carried whatever they wanted. A few years ago, they began issuing the Beretta 96D. They picked it because, at the time, it was the same pistol that the State Police issued.

[armoredman]

Glock dealer gave a G19 to the Director. Soon after, we threw out our Ruger Security Sixes and adopted Glock 19s. Trying to get CZ USA to give a PO1 to the new Director.....:cool:

[LawDog]

Our captain in charge of training read every gun magazine out there. All the 'ghun eckspertz' declared that any law enforcement officer who wasn't carrying a Glock in .40 S&W was doomed to go down in a hail of bullets whilst clutching a sub-par firearm and bewailing his fate.

So.

We carry the Glock 22. Period. No options.

No, I am not kidding.

LawDog

[WvaBill]

Was it Glock that traded all the 9mm hi cap mags for PD' wanting to "uprade" to .40's after the AWB passage?

[FedDC]

LawDog-

Haven't you heard? Glocks are Tacticool, Tommy Lee Jones used one in US Marshals, not one of those "Nickle Plated Sissy Pistols" ;)

[armoredman]

I'll stick to my approved off duty Italian cheapie that works perfectly every time for 13 years.....
http://www.hunt101.com/img/054216.jpg (http://www.hunt101.com/?p=54216&c=549&z=1)

[Wanderer]

From what I've read, Cost is a factor, but caliber is taken seriously too. That's why there are a lot of cops with .40's out there. A compromise between 9mm capacity and .45 power. Add .40 S&W to a low cost gun and you get a Glock 22 or 23, FBI sidearms, as well as the choice of a lot of other agencies out there.

[Pilgrim]

What the Chief or Sheriff likes.

Pilgrim

[stevelyn]

My department issues G-23s. I carry a G-22, and the chief carries a Beretta 96. We can carry whatever as long as it's in .40S&W.

[Russ]

The last place I lived in the PRK they allowed the officers to choose between a Beretta 9mm, a Glock .40 and a .45. I think the .45 was a S&W but not completely sure about it.

[telewinz]

What ever California or the FBI has, the research in the decision making process can be expensive and most PD's can't afford it. California does the research and everyone else copies, the "chief" has to justify his decision, not just indulge a whim.

[Harold Mayo]

Don't anyone be fooled...no PD of which I am aware makes an unprejudiced choice of duty weapon.

Cost is a big factor but you see so many G22's out there because (1) Glocks are great deals for LE agencies and (2) people are prejudiced against anything smaller than a .40 even though there is nothing but anecdotal evidence against anything smaller or FOR anything bigger.

IMHO, the Glock 19 is probably the best overall choice for a PD. One gun can be both duty weapon and off-duty weapon with no problem. Ammo is cheap, gun is cheap and durable, plenty of repair parts out there...just overall a good gun for a PD.

Remember...just because a cop carries a gun every day doesn't mean that he knows how to use it. I have a thread somewhere on THR where I described my experience with a couple of members of the a large Midwestern city's PD and my discussion with them about their duty weapons that does not paint a good picture.

[Erik]

There are many spot on comments o far.

I'd like to re-address cost. Cost has a LOT to do with it.

Why so many Glocks? Out the door for about $470 offered with Trijicons and three high capacity magazines. That's individual officer cost, not large-scale purchase, mind you.

They are good pistols. But lets be truthful as to why they are so popular among LEO ranks. Cost has a LOT to do with it.

For sake of comparison, HK USPs (a comparable pistol line popular with LEOs) are available to officers for around $650 w/ Trijocons and three high capacity magazines. Departments can get them for around $500.

(HK, want to fill more duty holsters? Shave your margins on sales to individual officers. Same for everyone else.)

[Checkman]

In my department we can carry any semi-auto brand that is approved by the Lt., Glocks, Smiths, Sigs, Colt/Kimber/Springfield 1911s, Springfield XDs, Rugers, Browning Hi-Powers, Berettas and H&K's all have the green light. The officer can choose 9mm, 40 S&W, or 45. BUT there is a strong possibility that the department will be going to Glocks within three to five years. We're looking at a cost of approximately $50,000, but it beats everyone else. The Lieutenant is leaning towards the G21, but others - to include the local Glock rep - is stumping for either the G22 or 23. The grip on the G21 is too big in both mine and other's opinions. Why are we contemplating general issue? Because the city and the department are growing rapidly and I suppose there is a concern over liability as well as the fact that with a general issue the department will only have to buy one caliber of ammo. Economics I suppose.

[Harry Tuttle]

http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=129996

Safety issues may prompt county police to fire Beretta

by Manju Subramanya
Staff Writer
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sep. 11, 2002


Montgomery County Police is considering replacing its decade-old Beretta handguns with lightweight plastic Glocks because of safety concerns and an aging stock.

Nine Berettas failed to fire between March and July. The problems prompted Chief Charles A. Moose in June to set up an internal committee to look into the issue.

[Skibane]

Since when did handguns become the only weapons carried by LEOs?

Did I miss a memo or something?

[clubsoda22]

Supposedly HK will soon have a factory in the united states, so they will be able to compete directly with glocks prices.

[Ed]

It has addressed just pistols so far. I know some PDs use Mini-14s and some use AR-15s. And I guess this is the same. who are the big contracts for rifles? I heard that the Texas DPS is switching from Mini14s to AR-15s. Wonder if we could find a good deal on police trade in Mini 14s.

[Skibane]

Is there really any such thing as a "good deal" on a Mini-14? ;)

IMO, a $180 Saiga Sporter or $300 Marlin 336 would make better choices than an $800+ AR. Think about it: For any given budget, you could triple the number of rifles purchased! No firearm does a police department much good if it's too expensive to be deployed in significant numbers.

[Checkman]

In my department the Remington 870 12g is issued. If an officer is on the tactical team they are issued an M-4 carbine which they keep with them. If officers not on the team want to carry a patrol rifle they are restricted to an AR-15/Car-15 (Bushmaster,Colt,etc.). The barrel cannot be under sixteen inches. The officer has to provide his own rifle. The department will provide ammo (55 grains Federal Tactical). The officer has to go through a four day class (four eight hour days) and successfully qualify with the rifle before he can carry it. The officer then has to requlify on an annual basis.

[WvaBill]

Skibane,

A Lever action against the evil black guns:eek:

;)