Do most police carry compacts or service models?

[WR Moore]

They do call the one the "service pistol" for a reason.

 

[bill_in_TX]

Originally posted by MK:
Hummm. Maybe so. Sure looked like a .45 in the
holster though.
I checked around the web, and as far as I can
tell the standard carry for HPD is the Sig P226
in .40 S&W. I'm not sure if they can carry
others or not. I thought they could, but maybe
not.
The Harris County sheriff I talk to, I think he
can carry just about whatever he wants, within
their guidelines. So he carries the .45 being
that's what he prefers.
He said he has tried most of the others,
including the .40, but says he always goes
back to his .45.
BTW, it seems the TXDPS is basically using the
same model SIG, except in 357 SIG.
Ditto for Oklahoma Highway Patrol according to
the source I read.

According to the HPD guys that come into the range that I shoot at, the department has a pretty flexible policy -- except with caliber. Due to some union negotiations several years back, HPD LEOs buy their own weapons and have a choice among quite a variety -- as long as they are .40 S&W (for newer hires). Veterans (of HPD) did get their .45s granfathered into approval, but I don't believe that newbies can do that.

I think that your right on Harris County Sheriffs and deputies. I even see some come into the range for pre-qual practice with revolvers.

The last I saw DPS Troopers were still using the Sig P226 in 357 Sig, but were migrating to Sig's latest DAO design (called a DAK after the designer, who introduced new leverage to reduce trigger pull and add a shorter reset point).

I believe that some non -uniform DPS folks are carrying the Sig P229, as well (at least one that showed up at my place to check on a neighbor's job application was carrying that plainsclothes -- I didn't think to ask if it was issue or not).

According to local LEO folklore the Texas Rangers carry whatever they damn well please

, but the few I've seen appear to like the 1911s.

 

[fiasconva]

Landric, which one was your favorite?

 

[bbaaspencer]

I just talked to my police officer friend and he said most officers in his station are required to purchase a .40 caliber weapon. He and most of the officers at his station are carrying Glocks. He said the ammunition varies according the season.

 

[Landric]

Originally posted by fiasconva:
Landric, which one was your favorite?

Hard to say really. I really dislike the .40S&W, but the M&P40 was probably the best overall weapon I have been issued. The USP40C and Glock 22 basically tie for second. The department that issued me the Beretta 92SB and F also had newer 92Gs with Trijicons. Had I gotten one of those, it would have been a solid second and perhaps in a close run for 1st. I really like the 92 series 9x19, but the 96 does nothing for me.

All in all, I'd much rather have a .45ACP (hence my part-time choice), but I can't seem to find any department to issue me one.

 

[Old Corp]

The first auto my agency (Raleigh PD, N.C.)was the M1076 10mm in about 1990. There were no compacts authorized. About 1998, we went to the 4566 for Field Operations, the Chief Spl..45 for Investigations with the option to pick a 4566 instead. Being a Detective, I chose the CS and carried it for several years. I transferred back to the line and retained my CS for uniform carry. My agency gifts your service weapon to you at retirement. I did not like the CS enough to want it at retirement. I switched over to the 4566 about 20 months from retirement.
RPD will be adopting the M&P .45 in just a few months. Full size only.