I wasn't exactly in law enforcement until 1990 other than being an explorer in the late 70s and a reserve deputy in a rural area in the late 80s. My dad, however, made a career with a midsized, Midwest police department, then went onto work rural law enforcement. He started at the police academy with a city issues model 10. After the academy, he started carrying a four inch 28 he had, plus a Model 36 as BUG/off duty. He ended up discovering the Model 28 did not agree with his back, but ended up shelving that gun for several years when he went into narcotics, vice, and burglary investigations. When promoted and back in uniform, a rookie with Magnum fever traded an early Model 15 for his 28. He still had the 15, and carried it thru retirement with the first department, and for several years after working in the country. His last employer, after about a 15 minute transition to a P226, had him retire the revolver.
Jordan holsters, first with the safety step, and later with the thumb break were the norm in that part of the country during that time. Buckmeyer holsters were common off duty or plain clothes rigs. Somehow he managed to wear a pair of Mode 36 three inches when dressed like a scumbag to buy dope. He's still got those 36s also.
In that part of the country during that time, most departments that issued handguns issued a Model 10 or 64. But if an offer could qualify, and I use the term loosely, they could carry other Smiths or Colts in .38, .357, .41, or .44 to include Magnum. There were a few who were hardcore, enlightened 1911 fans. My dad's department finally put the halt to carrying semis when it was discovered that officers who got lured to things line Model 59s carried those pistols on duty for a spell before finally going to qualify and discovering they did t work. That department didn't get on the semi auto bandwagon until the late 80s and only after dedicated transitions.