Just curious. Reading a novel published in 74 and set in Arizona. The main character is a trooper and is carrying a "38 Smith & Wesson auto". Somehow I doubt the AHP would have carried the Model 52. Researched it but couldn't find anything older than from the past decade.
what handgun did the Arizona Highway Patrol carry in the Seventies?
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Thanks. My father was Idaho State Police (1972-1994) and they are referred to as troopers in Idaho. Force of habit. Appreciate the help.
Here in Michigan, Public Safety means combined police and fire.
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I think they issued Model 15's. I've seen an Arizona DPS marked 15 somewhere.
THE PILGRIM
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In the 1973 Movie Electroglide in Blue, Bobby Blake played one of them AZ Public Safety Officers and he carried a Beretta!
No, wait, correction.
He packed a Pinto Python.
No, wait, correction.
He packed a Pinto Python.
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TLflag
SWCA Member
Pstol
The Arizona Highway Patrol carried Smith Model 19 "4 barrels in the 70s. When the Model 66's first came out they had stainless sights which was hard to see in bright daylight, I had one. Smith changed them to blue. Today they are the Troopers and carry 9mm Sigs I think. Just found out they just went to Glock 9's
Terry
The Arizona Highway Patrol carried Smith Model 19 "4 barrels in the 70s. When the Model 66's first came out they had stainless sights which was hard to see in bright daylight, I had one. Smith changed them to blue. Today they are the Troopers and carry 9mm Sigs I think. Just found out they just went to Glock 9's
Terry
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My first department had a chief that was very anti gun. Despite it being 1985 he did not allow speed loaders, and allowed only six rounds in a dump pouch. Despite the pouch holding 7 rounds and the high likelihood of dropping a round under stress when loading from a dump pouch he would not allow the extra round.
Most of us figured we’d rather be fired than dead, so we carried a J frame in an ankle holster, in addition to our duty revolver.
shovelmike
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Wow, an anti gun police chief! I agree, rather be fired than dead.
The first female officer to be hired by Arizona DPS. It appears that she was carrying a smaller framed revolver with fixed sights. Could just be an optical illusion I suppose.
SnidelyWhiplash
Member
Chiefs of Police are appointed by the city mayor or head of the county...thus they're beholden to that person. An anti-gun mayor or county head = anti-gun police chief. Simply politics.
The County Sheriff is elected by the citizens and thus beholden to them. The Sheriff is much more likely to reflect the wishes and attitudes of the citizens who elected him than otherwise.
The County Sheriff is elected by the citizens and thus beholden to them. The Sheriff is much more likely to reflect the wishes and attitudes of the citizens who elected him than otherwise.
I used an unauthorized speedloader to recharge my issued Colt DS in a 1974 gunfight w/three armed robbery suspects & it saved my life. The department issued speedloaders in the aftermath of this event.
That was exactly the case, and it’s still true today.
Anytime you hear anti gun comments from law enforcement officials they are almost invariably appointed chiefs of police parroting whatever the mayor or city council tells them to say.
Conversely, Sheriffs as officials directly elected by and responsible to the people are almost always pro gun.
Around here, if you have a concealed carry permit and have contact with a Deputy and are not carrying the response will be along the lines of “why the hell not.” Followed by a reminder that law enforcement will never arrive in time to prevent anything. They’ll arrive after the fact, take statements, collect evidence, give condolences, and try to identify and apprehend who ever did it. But self defense and defense of your family will ultimately be your responsibility.
mckenney99
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Even as late as 1980, when I was issued the Division mandated 4in. S&W M10HB, our issued gear included a unique combo unit with a covered 6 loop ammo pouch on top & a handcuff case suspended underneath the ammo.
Carrying extra ammo was not encouraged but not prohibited. Any extra ammo carried could not be carried on the duty belt. (I carried a couple extra 6 round Bianchi Speed Strips in my right front trouser pockets as they would work with my duty weapon and my backup gun, a 2in M64 that I carried in an ankle holster.) We didn't get real speedloaders until we transitioned to S&W M681's about 1986.
Same for backup guns. The carrying of a backup gun was not encouraged or prohibited as long as it met certain criteria.
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SGT ROCK 11B
Member
BTW they still exist today. They are really just Civil Servants for the most part.
SGT ROCK 11B
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Great memories indeed. Before speedloaders maybe half the officers carried a second revolver. After speedloaders became popular maybe just a quarter of the officers carried a BUG.
SGT ROCK 11B
Member
I thought AZ DPS allowed 1911s in the late 1970s, early 1980s.
In the early 1980s we were trying to get the 1911 approved and we had numerous documentation on OIS and one from AZ was a one shot stop on a murder suspect. I thought it was DPS but it could be another Agency.
In the early 1980s we were trying to get the 1911 approved and we had numerous documentation on OIS and one from AZ was a one shot stop on a murder suspect. I thought it was DPS but it could be another Agency.
SGT ROCK 11B
Member
Published in 1974 and the author was not a Gun Enthusiast.
Back then the ISP had just adopted the S&W 9mm so I bet that was what he was thinking.
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