Just because something was chosen by a government agency doesn't mean it's the best option. Often times it just means it was the cheapest option that met their minimum requirements.
And oftentimes, a company will basically provide its firearms initially for virtually free to agencies for their initial switch to its guns. S&W, around 2006 through 2008, followed Glock's business model of the previous decade, and in order to gain entry with its new pistols (the M&P-9 and M&P-40), offered unbelievable deals to agencies willing to trade in their previous issue gun for its guns.
Hint: it's not the "gun guys and gals" in law enforcement agencies who select their departments' new duty issue. If it were, at least in my department, we'd all be carrying Dan Wesson DWX, HK-45 or SIG P-226 Legion SAO pistols (I could live with a CZ-75, for sure).
I have trained people. If you haven't then you have no idea. The simpler the better. Thats why I'd pick a striker or DAO/DAK or LEM (all of which i personally despise but they are simple and consistent) for training the masses.. The more rounds available the better. The best combat gun for me personally will not be the best for someone who is 120lbs and never fired a gun.
I can almost agree here. I started training military personnel back in the day on 1911s, which had a little steeper learning curve; when we transitioned to the M9, qual scores overall went up, in spite of the bigger pistol.
After the military, I worked for an employer that briefly issued Ruger P-85 (then 89) at the academy (ugh), but most of the officers preferred the 3rd gen S&W pistols, although some carried SIGs. I then worked for a while with a department (that went to Glocks) that grandfathered the old Smiths and Beretta 92FS pistols, ending up being issued the HK USP. Try training people with zero firearms experience on the USP (V1, w/decocking frame safety). Eventually ended up with an American polymer-framed striker pistol and qual scores went up drastically. Hugely.
HOWEVER: in my experience, anyone who wants to become proficient with
any platform (yes, I'm using that damn term, because it's totally applicable, if it offends you, I don't care)
will become proficient. It's only those who only shoot annually or semi-annually for line quals and never plan to have to use their pistol who should be stuck with a base model striker-fired pistol.