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There are two main schools of thought in police firearms. One school is that the agency should issue or require the exact same weapon for everyone. This allows for better training and easier logistics (one type of ammo, one armorer school, one supply of parts, etc.). Better training also limits liability and it is easier to prove he was trained properly with the specific weapon. As part of this school, they also mention the possibility of swapping ammo if one officer runs out in a firefight or situation (my answer was always NO, I am NOT giving my ammo to someone who shot all his and we still have bad guys shooting at us).

The other school of thought is that an officer who supplies his own weapon will generally be a better shot with that weapon. He will choose one that fits his hand and desires better, and if he likes it he is more likely to go practice. If he owns the pistol to start with, it kind of subtly encourages him to spend some of his own money on ammo for practice also.

As a general rule, the larger the agency, the more restrictive they get on weapons. Houston PD is one of the exceptions to this (last I heard they still allowed officers to carry their own).

I know one of the mid-cities issues Colt 1911's. I think it's either Hurst or Bedford.

Denton PD has officers carry their own weapon, and there are many that carry a 1911.

KRM45 wrote:I know one of the mid-cities issues Colt 1911's. I think it's either Hurst or Bedford.

Denton PD has officers carry their own weapon, and there are many that carry a 1911.

this brings me joy that more cops out there with a gun that is worth having instread of that awful G word

tarkus wrote:I saw a cop in Houston a few years ago with a Delta Elite.

HPD is one agency I can tell you specifically does not allow 1911's except for officers who were "grandfathered" back in the late 1990s and continue to successfully requalify with their weapon of choice. Beyond that, the SWAT team members and MAY BE some of the tactical squad members are the only folks allowed to transition to a 1911 if they so choose. HPD does not issue firearms but they have a short approved firearms list that includes the Glock 22, Sig 226 and more recently the M&P in .40Short&Wimpy. The Beretta Cougar used to be on that list but since it is no longer in production under the Beretta banner I believe it is off the list. Beretta's Px4 may be on the list in it's place but I have yet to see a recent academy graduate carrying one. Almost all the officers I've met who have come on since 1997 are carrying a Glock 22 or Sig.

I recently saw two HPD officers carrying revolvers. ????

bdickens wrote:I recently saw two HPD officers carrying revolvers. ????

Again, that pretty much means they've been on since before the policies changed back in the late 1990's. They may even have been rookies at that time and are probably among the last officers allowed to qualify with revolvers if they're under 40. But again, with the exceptions I mentioned in my last post, no new hire since about 1997 has been allowed to carry anything other than one of the three or four .40cal pistols that have been on the approved firearms list since that time.

srothstein wrote: As a general rule, the larger the agency, the more restrictive they get on weapons.

UT-Austin PD is like this: they have one weapon they issue - the Glock 23. It's a small agency, but part of the University of Texas System - a huge bureaucracy.

lunchbox wrote:

G.A. Heath wrote:

lunchbox wrote:wow where do they issue kimbers thats pricy

Gaines County SO (They got an excellent deal) and Seminole Texas PD (Purchased direct from Kimber).

wow thats in the middle of nowhere

That is putting it lightly. I did, oops, lived there for five years. Back in the late 80's early 90's it was "run what you brung".

Wow, I'm in Seminole alot. I've never noticed. But I've never been pulled over by SO there either. My brother carried a Para C645 LDA off duty when he worked for Odessa PD. They weren't allowed to carry single actions at all, but he got the LDA and got approval from the range sgt and it was OK'd for off duty. I don't know if they'd have Ok'd a full size LDA for duty carry though. He didn't try. He just carried the issue Sig 220. The department he works for now issues Glock 22's. He LOVES the 1911, and would carry his Kimber Warrior as a duty gun if he could.

Seminole PD is actually listed on Kimber's website somewhere as an issuing department. The Seminole police chief is an excellent marksman and also serves as armorer for both SPD and the SO. What can I say, I live/work in small towns and make friends with the local LEOs when I can.

I saw an officer in Trophy Club today with a 1911 on his hip. Not sure what department he worked for as he was in plain clothes (but carrying his weapon OWB with his badge parked a few inches in front of it). I routinely see both Keller and Trophy Club PD officers at that location, so it was most likely one of them.

Strange how I've changed over the past year of carrying though... I didn't think his cocked and locked .45 looked dangerous at all. Sure was purty though!

Sangiovese wrote:I saw an officer in Trophy Club today with a 1911 on his hip. Not sure what department he worked for as he was in plain clothes (but carrying his weapon OWB with his badge parked a few inches in front of it). I routinely see both Keller and Trophy Club PD officers at that location, so it was most likely one of them.

Strange how I've changed over the past year of carrying though... I didn't think his cocked and locked .45 looked dangerous at all. Sure was purty though!

my dad came in and saw my 1911 cocked and locked and was like "WHY IS THAT GUN COCKED !!!"
and i had to explain thats how it is done

While having lunch yesterday in Conroe, four LEO were leaving ( also in plain clothes ) two 1911's and the other two appeared to have M&P's but not 100% sure on those.

Vic303 wrote:I've seen Plano PD carrying 1911's.

i did a ride along with the PPD and before we went out we were in the breifing room, out of about a dozen officers 4 or 5 were carring 1911's.

9mmGuy wrote:

Vic303 wrote:I've seen Plano PD carrying 1911's.

i did a ride along with the PPD and before we went out we were in the breifing room, out of about a dozen officers 4 or 5 were carring 1911's.

After their 1st year of probation, they are allowed to carry a personal weapon if it is on the approved list. 1911's are approved.