I have carried 3rd generation Smith's (6906, 3914 and 4046) for service pistols and would put one back in the holster any day of the week. They were all VERY reliable, accurate and came with the lifetime warranty. I've also had the privilege of being able to buy all of those retired pistols and a few more 3rd generations (6450 (transition from 645 to 4506) and a 4516-2).
Currently I carry an M&P40C as that's why my dept. issued me. I'm happy with the pistol. It rides nicely on my hip while in uniform, plain clothes and even under a T-shirt in an IWB holster. It also shoots very well and the felt recoil is less than a Glock 23 that I was forced to carry for about 4 years while Detectives were issued either the G23 or G27 and uniformed folks either carried the 4046 or later the SW99 in .40. Not too long ago I actually shot two qualification relays back to back. The first with the M&P40C and shot a 98.6%. The G23 was fired in the second relay and I was not at all pleased. I hadn't shot it much over the past year as I transitioned to the M&P in April, 2008. The G23 functioned fine but was not as comfortable in the hand and my score was in the 80's (can't remember exactly what the score was because I tore the target off the backer and threw it away!)
So back to the debate about S&W in L.E. use. The lifetime warranty is a HUGE incentive for anyone that buys a Smith. But on top of that, Smith also has a "911 Priority Service" that can be very beneficial for L.E. Our dept. armorers have had times where they needed to send either the 4046, SW99 or the newer M&P40 (full size or compact) back for warranty repair. Normally the factory sends a confirmation letter to the dept. advising that they have received the pistol for service. When the pistol is sent for service it is overnighted and Smith typically has it back out within 24 hours. We have actually had times where the gun came back the same week and the receipt confirmation letter arrived after the gun had already been returned. All with a no charge bill.
Now when my dept. switched to Glock's for Detectives and the G22 for SWAT there were several times where guns were gone to Smyrna, GA for MONTHS and there was always a bill for repairs. Glock also charged for all spare parts while Smith was happy to send spares so that armorers could make repairs at the range rather than send a gun back for repairs or new parts. And the bill for the Smith parts, No Charge.
From a business standpoint with a government agency (even at the local level) where the bureaucrats are concerned about the bottom line they probably don't care if you carry a Kel-Tec or a Kimber if the price tag is right. Smith seems to be going out of their way trying and succeeding in transitioning departments from earlier Smith models (and other brands) to the M&P's. Heck, some agencies are even ponying up with the M&P15's in addition to the M&P pistols! And if the powers that be sign off on the purchase order than I'm all for it.
I will always be a Smith fan and I realize that some of their guns have been lemons. But, they always stand by their products and want to make it right. For the law enforcement community, offering 1 for 1 trades for used trade-ins for new M&P's, free holsters for the new guns or swapping out ammo when a dept. changes calibers are all icing on the cake. And I would be willing to bet that since you're on the Smith Forum you are probably a Smith fan as well. If you're not, you're certainly surrounded by them.
And the BS about officers being killed because of not being able to place a safety into Fire position or the magazine disconnect mentioned in previous posts... I'd like to see the documentation on that. Here in Charlotte we had one officer years ago that had his issued 5906 taken from him while he was off duty and the bad guy pulled the trigger with the safety (decocker) in the down position and the trigger was disconnected and the gun did not fire. This undoubtedly saved the officer's life. We also had several cases where officers fighting for retention of their pistols were able to drop the magazine from the gun and rendered it a 2 pound club. Love it or hate it, the magazine disconnect can save an officer's life when they are fighting to hold onto their gun.
Enough said for now...
