The year was 1975. 800 sworn So. Cal. Sheriff's Department. The issued weapon was the S&W 39-2. The thought was, the extra rounds in the mag and on the belt was a plus - and that the deputies doing prisoner transport could pop the mag disconnect and a prisoner could not overpower them and use the 9 mm against them.
Personally, I like the 39-2. In fact, When some Department bean counter decided we should go to the S&W 66 4 inch, I bought my 39-2 and still have it. Great gun to this day!