Police Handguns

If I was a betting man, I would say Glock. The exact model varies, but they are mighty popular. The NYPD for instance issues either a Sig 226 or a Glock 17 or 19 and they have a TON of officers.

I just retired from BRPD. In 2002 they went from the S&W 4046 it the Glock Gen3 22 and 17. They later went to the Gen4 Glock 22 And 17. About three years ago they fazed out the Glock 22 and went strictly to the Glock 17. Last year they started issuing Gen5 Glock 17s.
The East Baton Rouge Sheriffs office issues Glocks. The Louisiana State Police issue Glocks. My local home town police department and Sheriff office both issue Glocks.
There’s a post on what handguns do the police in your area carry, that was done a couple of years ago. Glock seemed to be the most prevalent.

For years it has been stated that 65% of the police in the US carry Glocks. I suspect it might be a bit less today as there are many other polymer framed striker fired pistols available.

Brubz said:

I am curious what handgun is most frequently used by police officers in the United States today?

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It's likely that somewhere in the neighborhood of 75-80% of police officers carry a Glock. Pareto's Law of Distribution holds that in any creative endeavor (such as the production and sale of handguns), approximately 20% of the producers will account for 80% of the production. This is a statistical estimate and not reliant on empirical data and it would be interesting to collect and map the data to see how accurate the estimate is. Be that as it may, it is indisputable that Glock is the dominant producer and equipment provider to police departments.

In a broader sense, once you become aware of the Pareto Principle (also called Matthew's Law in the bible, "he who has much will be given more,") the world in general becomes more comprehensible.

Glock, as they have been able to displace the 3rd Gen Smiths since the 1990's.

Fast moving up, SIG with their lineup, and the P320 in particular. Based on the number of complaints by officers who mishandle their new SIGs - the same phenomenom Glock suffered in the late 90s thru now - it would appear that SIG is taking a lot of LEO contracts away as the fleet of Glocks in the field are aging. Since SIG's P320 is now the leading edge of tech in firearms with it's FCU and ability of the user to change grip units to make it fit their needs, every day Glock drags it's feet is another sale lost.

They are currently protesting the Canadian contract to replace Browning Hipowers by claiming it's preferential because it requires FCU's. Glock would know as contracts were let with provisions for their design to be preferential, too, and it's how they got where they are today. Marketing has sold the design well, SIG has elevated theirs, and it's a vicious fight to see who will win.

It doesn't help that Glock is now using a 40 year old design which is stale, with no major improvements forecast for it. They have become the 1911 of the 21st century. Adored, "reliable," and trusted, with a lot of aftermarket support for the foreseeable future. That doesn't make them the sharp tip of firearms design anymore, it makes them the gun of the older generations. That "F" word we haven't invented yet to describe those 35-55 now who are becoming static in their buying habits and basically a Glock generation.

Comes around goes around.

Many Departments here have replaced the Glocks with the S&W M&P series, largely because they are cheaper and subsidized the purchase with ridiculous trade-in values.

Tirod said:

Glock, as they have been able to displace the 3rd Gen Smiths since the 1990's.

Fast moving up, SIG with their lineup, and the P320 in particular. Based on the number of complaints by officers who mishandle their new SIGs - the same phenomenom Glock suffered in the late 90s thru now - it would appear that SIG is taking a lot of LEO contracts away as the fleet of Glocks in the field are aging. Since SIG's P320 is now the leading edge of tech in firearms with it's FCU and ability of the user to change grip units to make it fit their needs, every day Glock drags it's feet is another sale lost.

They are currently protesting the Canadian contract to replace Browning Hipowers by claiming it's preferential because it requires FCU's. Glock would know as contracts were let with provisions for their design to be preferential, too, and it's how they got where they are today. Marketing has sold the design well, SIG has elevated theirs, and it's a vicious fight to see who will win.

It doesn't help that Glock is now using a 40 year old design which is stale, with no major improvements forecast for it. They have become the 1911 of the 21st century. Adored, "reliable," and trusted, with a lot of aftermarket support for the foreseeable future. That doesn't make them the sharp tip of firearms design anymore, it makes them the gun of the older generations. That "F" word we haven't invented yet to describe those 35-55 now who are becoming static in their buying habits and basically a Glock generation.

Comes around goes around.

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If the Glock design works as well as any newcomers, and parts are in stock and armorers trained on their internals, why change?

S&W and Colt revolvers worked, and were the mainstay of most depts. for probably 70 years. No one complained that they should change revolver companies just because they were an old design.

When they did change, it was to a completely new format, semi autos.

Is the LAPD still leaning on the Beretta 92-series?

Probably depends on the state and their purchasing laws and policies.An Aberdeen, NJ LEO told me they get their vehicles from the state-3 new ones a year-but his department decided what sidearms they would get-he was their chief evaluator.

Tirod said:

Glock, as they have been able to displace the 3rd Gen Smiths since the 1990's.

Fast moving up, SIG with their lineup, and the P320 in particular. Based on the number of complaints by officers who mishandle their new SIGs - the same phenomenom Glock suffered in the late 90s thru now - it would appear that SIG is taking a lot of LEO contracts away as the fleet of Glocks in the field are aging. Since SIG's P320 is now the leading edge of tech in firearms with it's FCU and ability of the user to change grip units to make it fit their needs, every day Glock drags it's feet is another sale lost.

They are currently protesting the Canadian contract to replace Browning Hipowers by claiming it's preferential because it requires FCU's. Glock would know as contracts were let with provisions for their design to be preferential, too, and it's how they got where they are today. Marketing has sold the design well, SIG has elevated theirs, and it's a vicious fight to see who will win.

It doesn't help that Glock is now using a 40 year old design which is stale, with no major improvements forecast for it. They have become the 1911 of the 21st century. Adored, "reliable," and trusted, with a lot of aftermarket support for the foreseeable future. That doesn't make them the sharp tip of firearms design anymore, it makes them the gun of the older generations. That "F" word we haven't invented yet to describe those 35-55 now who are becoming static in their buying habits and basically a Glock generation.

Comes around goes around.

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Agreed.. Sooner or later and slowly but surely Glock will loose market shares.

Tirod said:

Glock, as they have been able to displace the 3rd Gen Smiths since the 1990's.

Fast moving up, SIG with their lineup, and the P320 in particular. Based on the number of complaints by officers who mishandle their new SIGs - the same phenomenom Glock suffered in the late 90s thru now - it would appear that SIG is taking a lot of LEO contracts away as the fleet of Glocks in the field are aging. Since SIG's P320 is now the leading edge of tech in firearms with it's FCU and ability of the user to change grip units to make it fit their needs, every day Glock drags it's feet is another sale lost.

They are currently protesting the Canadian contract to replace Browning Hipowers by claiming it's preferential because it requires FCU's. Glock would know as contracts were let with provisions for their design to be preferential, too, and it's how they got where they are today. Marketing has sold the design well, SIG has elevated theirs, and it's a vicious fight to see who will win.

It doesn't help that Glock is now using a 40 year old design which is stale, with no major improvements forecast for it. They have become the 1911 of the 21st century. Adored, "reliable," and trusted, with a lot of aftermarket support for the foreseeable future. That doesn't make them the sharp tip of firearms design anymore, it makes them the gun of the older generations. That "F" word we haven't invented yet to describe those 35-55 now who are becoming static in their buying habits and basically a Glock generation.

Comes around goes around.

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A 40 yr old design that works....I really like my Glock. As my wife can attest...looks ain’t everything.

MedWheeler said:

Is the LAPD still leaning on the Beretta 92-series?

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I believe the Glock 22 .40 cal is standard issue now at LAPD.

LASD, the largest sheriffs Dept in the US, went to the M&P… where they had some growing pains with negligent discharges after swapping from the Beretta 92

https://oig.lacounty.gov/Portals/OIG/Reports/Unintended Discharge Report.pdf

Stay safe.

From checking out LEO holsters around my area, 1st place is Glock & 2nd place is S&W M&P

I've noticed that most of the sheriffs here in Hillsborough county Florida have been carrying FN pistols lately. Not sure what caliber though.

Last year we went from S&W M&P 45s to glock 17s, sheriffs and troopers also carry glocks

Dan

upptick said:

It's likely that somewhere in the neighborhood of 75-80% of police officers carry a Glock. Pareto's Law of Distribution holds that in any creative endeavor (such as the production and sale of handguns), approximately 20% of the producers will account for 80% of the production. This is a statistical estimate and not reliant on empirical data and it would be interesting to collect and map the data to see how accurate the estimate is. Be that as it may, it is indisputable that Glock is the dominant producer and equipment provider to police departments.

In a broader sense, once you become aware of the Pareto Principle (also called Matthew's Law in the bible, "he who has much will be given more,") the world in general becomes more comprehensible.

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Which is precisely how natural monopolies are formed from coincidental mergers and acquisitions. Vista Outdoors is a prime example of a natural monopoly in the process of evolving.

Brubz said:

I'm wondering if the recent uptick in "Buy American" rhetoric from politicians will be a help to Smith & Wesson and their M&P Shield.
Or is it just about dollars and cents and service agreements?

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I'm pretty sure but not positive that, at this point, most (or at least many) of the Glocks sold to government purchasers in the US are made in America.

In the years I have worked in and around various law enforcement agencies, handguns are ranked Glock, M&P, and SIG. In that order. Glocks are predominately in the 9mm flavor with 40 and 45 taking a distant tie for 2nd in caliber popularity. All the Sigs and M&Ps I have seen were in 9mm. I only know of one officer that carries a 1911 and it was a SIG Tacops model.

Many departments use an approved list of what officers can carry. Often it can be something very specific such as Glock 9mm, 4" minimum barrel. Other departments it can be a lot more flexible as long as you can get a duty holster for it. When I worked with my very local, rural PD I was told it couldn't be "crap" guns like Hi Point, Jiminez etc. Anything else was pretty much fair game. Other than Glocks, most of the officers in that precinct carried Sigs or Walthers.

TEKoken813 writes:

I've noticed that most of the sheriffs here in Hillsborough county Florida have been carrying FN pistols lately.

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There should only be one sheriff in Hillsborough County.

NIGHTLORD40K said:

Many Departments here have replaced the Glocks with the S&W M&P series, largely because they are cheaper and subsidized the purchase with ridiculous trade-in values.

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I have read that Glock was kind of notorious for giving high trade in values on a departments old guns, mags & holsters in the past with large contracts. They figured out the filter down effect. Supply a large city with X model, then many of the small departments nearby want the same. Better yet if they can supply a State Police agency, as it is seen as a big OK for that model by many smaller agencies. Of course the smaller outfits aren't treated so generously

Last I knew in Ohio, the Troopers carried Sigs. Local cops carry Glocks, Columbus were carring Smith MPs.