Except for certain special-assignment weapons, all HPD officers purchase their own firearms. A wide range of duty pistols (autoloaders and revolvers) were used until 1997. In September 1997, all new duty pistols had to be certain DA autoloaders in .40. (SIG P229, Beretta Cougar, and a certain S&W) Duty pistols being carried as of the 1997 policy change would be grandfathered, remaining approved for that officer if he qualified annually on schedule. That is why so many older officers are still seen with such pistols as 1911s and sixguns. Over time, the Cougar dropped from the list, to be replaced by the Beretta 96G, and the S&W model changed several times. The Glock G22 was added along the way. In the summer of 2007, a comprehensive new firearms policy added several new DA .40s, including the SIG P226, G23, and a few others, and I think no Berettas are still on the list. When a policy change occurs, what an officer is already carrying remains approved as long as he fires the annual qual with it. The preceding applies to "primary" pistols worn in the uniformed duty holster, with which the officer must qual on schedule. Back-up and off-duty handguns remain much the same as before 1997, .380 up to .45. These other weapons must also be fired on an annual qual course and be current if used for police purposes. To fully discuss the current policy could take a small book, and members of the department are not supposed to publicly discuss or debate department policy. I will neither confirm nor deny my employment history, but I do work in law enforcement in the SE Texas area. Other agencies in the area also allow quite a variety of duty weapons, and few agencies issue weapons in this part of Texas, where it is traditional (and cheaper for taxpayers) for officers to purchase thier own weapons.