LE using revolvers

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A few years ago while I was in NYC for a parade I noticed a lady-cop who had what seemed to be a Model 66 on her hip. So as of a couple years ago I suppose NYC cops were still allowed to if they wanted.
 
NYC, all new officers started being "issued" 9's back in 1993. A conversion took place to all existing over 3 years or so. It was not mandatory but most converted once the cost was picked up by the department. If you see a blue steel gun out there they are past their 20. I still have my 3" Model 64 NYPD-1 in the locker, no longer authorized in place of a Sig 226. SP101, 64 2" and 640 were authorized "off duty" till recently (3-4 years). I still have my 640, not giving that up, and it is authorized, carry it 24/7. For new guys and gals there are a few smaller 9's to chose from for that role, none are "five for sure" though. Bill
 
I was in Chicago/O'Hare in 2005 and saw a member of Chicago's finest with a blue steel revolver. He was probably grandfathered in like NYPD.
 
I could see a revolver making a lot of sense for a cop in a predomanently low-crime rural area with large critters around. As for a dept that a revolver is their issue weapon? I don't think there are any that do anymore. Some dept's have 'approved gun' lists and there are a few that allow for revolvers.
 
Ocean City MD issues their Seasonal cops mostly college kids nice stainless revolvers (not sure make or model), while the full timers carry autos.
 
In the Atlanta area, you'll still see a few older officers and detectives carrying wheelguns. My understanding is that they have to qualify with them, which means that the guys carrying revolvers really know what they're doing :)
 
I met a Police officer in Kentucky outside of Ft. Campbell a few years back that carried a Ruger .44mag single action.(can't remember the model) He was into Cowboy action shooting and I could swear he was Wyatt Earps reencarnation with how fast he could draw, shoot and actually hit the target.
 
A few years back I did see a Philadelphia, PA officer with a stainless S&W. (He said he didn't know the model... "It's what they gave me")

Also, the Baltimore PD allowed officers to carry a S&W Model 10. (This was maybe six years back when I talked to the officer.)
 
I carried a S&W model 10 from 1994-1995 and then a S&W 610 in a custom made BladeTech from 2004-05. Back pain is why I stopped carrying the 610.
 
I saw a Houston PD officer carrying a huge N frame S&W about two years ago.

Also, all the bank guards (Wackenhut) in Boston MA all carry stainless 4" .38 special Smith and Wesson's.
 
In Luxembourg the Police has S&W 686s. They also have Sigs, but the "normal" officers carry revolvers in .38spc. The Customs officers and the army have all changed to Glocks recently though. I would not be surprised if the police did the same.
 
Here, my local agencies leave the weapon of choice up to the individual
officer. Having said that, I know a recently retired Chief Deputy with the
sheriff's department who never toted anything other than a "wheel gun".
Like most of us, he had many weapons too choose from; but preferred
to carry his 4" stainless S&W model 66, as his duty weapon. Needless
to say, he knows how to use it; always qualifying for the "Governors
20", signifying the top 20 LEO shooters in the State of Alabama. ;)
 
There was a DA Investigator in High Point NC, carrying a 3" model 66. I saw him with it when I had jury duty. He carried it in a left hand, black leather, paddle holster.

According to the bailiff I spoke to, he was the last LEO in Guilford county NC, carrying a revolver. The bailiff had seen him shoot, and said he knew how to use it. Apparently this investigator had a reputation with a revolver. TJ
 
"Use" and "issue" are very different. Most agencies have probably converted to autos as issue weapons, but many officers work for agencies that require the officer to provide his/her own weapons, or at least pay for them, and as rules change, officers may still be allowed to retain their older weapons, under what some call a grandfather clause. That is why one earlier post mentioned a Houston PD officer being seen with a sixgun. HPD officers still buy their own weapons, but for about a decade have had to select from a list of .40 DA autos for use as uniform duty pistols. An HPD officer wearing a sixgun while in uniform has at least a decade of experience. (I live in a city surrounded by Houston, and know many HPD officers.)
 
In Luxembourg the Police has S&W 686s. They also have Sigs, but the "normal" officers carry revolvers in .38spc.
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That's very interesting. Don't some Departments carry the Walther P99?
 
I met a Livestock Detective (brand inspector) a couple years back who carried a DA revolver and a couple of speed loaders in nice brown leather. He was the "real deal" and looked like a character out of some western movie. Nice guy, too - though I wouldn't want to be on the wrong side with him.
 
That's very interesting. Don't some Departments carry the Walther P99?
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Hehe, do you know how small this country is? :D There are different police stations of course, and many of them. But no "departments". The police is the police. There are no differences for certain regions of the country.

But why do you ask specifically about the Walther P99? I only know of a German "Bundesland" (NRW) that use them...
 
In NJ I see armored car guys picking up bags from banks with revolvers on their belts, looked like Rugers to me.
 
In NJ I see armored car guys picking up bags from banks with revolvers on their belts, looked like Rugers to me.
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Revolvers are still common with security/armored car folks, but sadly not for the right reasons.

Every one of my students I've drilled with a revolver has come away a better shooter. I wonder if limited training with wheelguns would help improve LEO marksmanship.
 
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