LEO duty weapon question

[bauerdj]

Harris Co. SO does not issue a firearm, each officer must purchase his/her own upon entry into the academy. I think they must be on an approved list but that list includes everything from Glocks to 1911 and even some wheelguns. Most common firearm in present class is G22. There is one Kimber and a couple of other 1911's and several XD's

Dave B.

[KBCraig]

Harris Co. SO does not issue a firearm, each officer must purchase his/her own upon entry into the academy.

Same with Bowie Co. SO. I don't know if they even have an approved list.

But then, our deputies buy not only their own firearms, but also their uniforms and even have to buy their own patrol cars!

[mr surveyor]

Harris Co. SO does not issue a firearm, each officer must purchase his/her own upon entry into the academy.

Same with Bowie Co. SO. I don't know if they even have an approved list.

But then, our deputies buy not only their own firearms, but also their uniforms and even have to buy their own patrol cars!

seriously ?

[BrassMonkey]

Sure, why not?

Harris Co. SO does not issue a firearm, each officer must purchase his/her own upon entry into the academy.

Same with Bowie Co. SO. I don't know if they even have an approved list.

But then, our deputies buy not only their own firearms, but also their uniforms and even have to buy their own patrol cars!

seriously ?

[mr surveyor]

o.k........


here's the part of the quote I was pointing out


"even have to buy their own patrol cars"



there's a whole lot of problems I can see with that policy!

[BrassMonkey]

Again, Why not?

The postal carriers where I live, on this rural route, do not get the tradiotional vehicles. They driver their own personal vehicles, minivans, cars, trucky, 4 wheelers and motorylces. They just put a magnetic sign on the car or whatever to make it official when they are working.

Head on up to outside Seattle. Go ask the game warden who is driving an 8 jimmy, who paid for that car :-) He probably bought the lightbar and siren himself too :-)

o.k........


here's the part of the quote I was pointing out


"even have to buy their own patrol cars"



there's a whole lot of problems I can see with that policy!

[gregthehand]

They sometimes buy the cars but the County gives them a vehicle allowance. Also the county usually furnishes the lightbar, decals, radio, cage, etc.

[AFJailor]

Anyone know about Plano PD's duty weapon?

[CHL/LEO]

I know a Dallas detective that carries a 229.

We do have a few officers that are allowed to carry the 229. If an officer has small hands then the 226 might be too big or the trigger reach might not be right, then they can carry a 229 (and if I remember correctly I think a few might even have a 225). The bottom line is that they have to be Sigs.

Detectives fall into a different category too as they are allowed to have two primary weapons. For example, when my wife worked in a detective bureau she was authorized to carry her G17 as her primary weapon (this is what she carried in her Sam Browne) but she also could have carried a G19 as her primary weapon when she was dressed in plainclothes. Same with the Sigs - I could get authorization to carry both a 226 and a 229 if I was a detective.

One thing I can assure you of is that he was not carrying a 40 caliber 229. The only calibers that we are authorized for are 9mm & .357 Sig in our primary weapons, while .380 is OK in approved back-up weapons. The very few revolver shooters that we still have on the department can carry .38 Special or .357 magnum.

[KRM45]

Anyone know about Plano PD's duty weapon?

Glock 22.

[KBCraig]

"even have to buy their own patrol cars"

Yep, seriously. The deputies buy their vehicles, then the county outfits them with markings, lights, and comm equipment (and cages if needed). The deputies then get a monthly vehicle allowance. If they take good care of the vehicle and make it last longer than the bank note, the allowance makes a nice monthly bonus.

We see a wide variety of vehicles. Luminas, Intrepids, Chargers, Durangos, Blazers...

I don't think it's common these days (at least, I don't see it any more), but deputies used to park, then ride along with troopers. Made the vehicle last a lot longer, and saved gas money.

[srothstein]

TABC is in the process of switching the state issued weapon from S&W M&P in .40 to the Glock 22 in .40. But, we only buy about 100 pistols for a 300 man force since we allow officers to carry their own weapons. I would estiamte that about 1/3 of the department is carrying a 1911 style of one type or another. Our only rule for duty weapons is that it has to carry Speer Gold Dot ammo in it (which limits some calibers) and you have to qualify with it on our course.


Incidentally, if you are getting out of the military, you might want to look at TCLEOSE's new rules for changing to civilian law enforcement. They have added the Air Force to the list and added that qualified MP's can take the 120 hour changeover academy instead of the full academy. Check here for more information:

http://www.tcleose.state.tx.us/FormsApp ... -26-07.pdf

. . . Art Acevedo (new APD chief for those not in the Austin area) was doing his best to make ALL officers carry Glock .40s, no ifs, ands, or buts. Thoughts?

Sounds like the new chief is an anal-retentive control freak, the quintissential bureaucrat. Wonder if his desire for uniformity will lead him to issue orders that the pistol be carried on the right side . . . even if the officer is left handed. (I've heard that some departments have so directed.)

Not anal, but thinking like a Chief. There are lots of good reasons for a department to require everyone to carry the same weapon, most of which come down to liability. There are the logistics reasons (one type of ammo, one supply of spare parts), the tactical reasons (if something happens to one officer, others can still use his weapon if they need too, one officer out of ammo can borrow a magazine from another if needed), and the big one - training. This way he can ensure that all officers receive the same training and can operate the weapon to the same standard.

Failure to train is one of the big liability lawsuits for any employer, and it hits police very hard.

[AFJailor]

well i definately qualify for the abbreviated academy, thanks for letting me know about that I really had no idea.