I was watching the Houston Astro/ St. Louis Cardinal game today and saw a pair of Smith target grips show up on the picture. Just got a glimpse, so did not see whether it was HPD or some sort of private game security. Anyone know if HPD still allows an officer to carry revolvers?

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Richard Gillespie
FBINA 102

REAL COPS CARRY REVOLVERS

I have a cousin, a sergeant, in Houston and I believe revolvers were grandfathered for older officers. In the past you were pretty well able to choose what you wanted to carry as long as it was of 38 or bigger caliber. I am currently pretty well removed from current info, but I'm sure some of our Texas LEO's will respond with more current info. You have to remember, most of the younger LEO's willingly carry "drastic plastic", it's only us old farts who are comfortable with "wheel guns" { and I should add, real combat autos ie. 1911's}

Leaving out 9mm (.357 vs .355)

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In dog years I'm dead.

I should have included 9mm.

I worked as a park ranger for a couple of years. You could carry anything that was a ".38", such as .38 special, .38 Super, .380 auto. 9mm was not permitted and neither were .357 magnums even if loaded with .38 spls.

Currently, HPD authorizes only 40 caliber semi-automatics as duty weapons. There is a list of "authorized" makes, but I have no idea what they are now. I see a lot of Glocks, Sigs, Berrettas and the occasional Smith and Wesson on the cops I have contact with.

Back in the early 70's HPD could carry what they could qualify with and in a widow-maker flap holster! I believe it was .38 caliber or above, although some .32's were common with old timers and detectives. Most I remember seeing carried Colt .45 automatics (in condition 3). Smith and Colt revolvers were out there, too. Even a few 6 inch Model 29's (with FULL power magnum loads, too) were fielded.

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The Last Standing Knight

I used to attend the Corvette Show in the George Brown Convention center and the ones that came through there had everything...its been a few years now though.
I once saw a big Houston Officer with 2 45s on Older Colt Nickel with Silver Mexican Style grips....LOVED IT ...one for right hand one for left.

NOW ...I considered that they could have been working sercurity and not patrol units that just stopped in...I shot at a range in South Houston one week and there were a bunch of HPD in there for yearly quailfications and saw all sorts of firearms...fun day

Delete has info

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Fair winds and following sea

Thanks for all the information. I was shocked to see a set of target grips walk by. The camera was about belt high, so thats about all the showed. I don't even think I saw a shirt color.

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Richard Gillespie
FBINA 102

I live and work in Houston. There is a cop in our parking garage right now wearing a Model 66 .357 magnum with target grips. I have seen several other HPD officers still carrying S&W revolvers on duty. It is not uncommon.

I have a friend that is a Dallas patrol officer and he still carries his Model 66. You see a few of the veteran officers still carry revolvers.

In my agency it is all self loading sidearms. Smith, Glock, Beretta, H&K, Sig Sauer, a couple of 1911's.

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I am a sheep dog!
1601 (ret)

Can Dallas officers still use .357 ammo? I know that some carry .357 SIG autos.

T-Star

I believe he carries 357 magnum rounds but am not absolutely certain.

I did hear from one of the Sgts. I know that the 357 Sig round had been evaluated and the reports were favorable, but not sure if there has been an official switch.

Will look into this weekend and let you know.

I do know the official issued sidearm is the Sig Sauer.

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I am a sheep dog!
1601 (ret)

There are a lot of Constables in the Houston area. In years gone past, many of the Constable Precincts let officers carry whatever they could qualify with. During the 1990s my best friend had a gunsmith shop in Houston. Saw a lot of Constables come in there. They carried a wide variety of handguns. Sporting events usually have off duty officers working as a side job. My guess is that you saw one of the Constables working off duty at the game.