Detroit PD Switches To Smith & Wesson M&P .40SW Handguns and AR15 Rifles

[TGO David]

Detroit Police Department Converts to Smith & Wesson M&P40 Pistols & M&P15 Tactical Rifles

SPRINGFIELD, Mass., April 30 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Smith & Wesson Holding Corporation (Nasdaq: SWHC), parent company of Smith & Wesson Corp., the legendary 157-year old company in the global business of safety, security, protection and sport, announced today that the Detroit Police Department will equip its force with Smith & Wesson Military & Police (M&P) Series pistols and with M&P Series tactical rifles. The orders mark a conversion of the entire Detroit Police Department to Smith & Wesson firearms. The orders also demonstrate Smith & Wesson's progress towards its stated strategy to expand its professional law enforcement customer base.

M&P40 Polymer Pistols

The Department has placed an order for 5,000 Smith & Wesson M&P40 polymer pistols, chambered in .40 S&W. The pistols will be issued to each officer of the Detroit Police Department and will replace currently issued, non-Smith & Wesson firearms supplied by a European-based manufacturer. During the selection process for a new duty sidearm, the M&P pistol was compared exclusively with the department's then-current handgun. The M&P40 received high marks on officer evaluation forms for the pistol's ergonomics, operating controls and reliability. The M&P pistol was also noted for its ambidextrous controls and the ability to customize the grip size of the pistol to each officer's preference.

M&P15 Tactical Rifles

The Department has also placed an order for 350 M&P15 tactical rifles. The rifles will become available to officers upon the completion of a certification course. While reviewing new patrol rifles during the test and evaluation process, the Detroit Police Department compared the M&P15 against a broad range of competitive semi-automatic rifles. The M&P15 was acknowledged for the high quality of its components, the fact that it is produced in the United States, and that it is fully supported with training offered by Smith & Wesson.

Detroit Chief of Police, James R. Barren, Ph.D., said, "Converting our department to a completely new brand of firearms was a significant decision that required a great deal of evaluation by our officers. The Smith & Wesson M&P40 and the M&P15 merited a review, based upon their selection by a number of other law enforcement agencies recently. Both of these firearms were thoroughly tested and found to meet or exceed all of our requirements. The pistols allow each officer to customize the fit and feel of the sidearm and that translates into a safer and more efficient environment on the job. We were also impressed with the level of customer service that Smith & Wesson can deliver, along with the warranty that stands behind both the M&P40 pistols and the M&P15 tactical rifles."

Leland Nichols, Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Smith & Wesson, said, "We are extremely pleased and honored that the Detroit Police Department has chosen to equip its officers with multiple firearms from our M&P series. This series of products has been designed especially to address the needs of global law enforcement and military personnel and is manufactured in the United States. The Detroit Police Department's commitment to provide its police officers, and therefore its citizens, with the highest quality and the highest level of safety possible is demonstrated by the decision to convert to both the M&P40 pistol and M&P15 rifle. Both of these firearms have earned the respect of police agencies both in the United States and abroad. Currently, the M&P pistol has been approved or adopted by 505 U.S. police departments, and the M&P15 tactical rifle has been approved or adopted by 221 U.S. police departments."

[Raoul]

Wonder what they had been using? Glock?

[TGO David]

That is what I had read elsewhere. The S&W press release didn't state, ostensibly to take the high road.

[Guest Todd@CIS]

LOL...touche.

However, I wouldn't point to anything Detroit PD does gun-related as the standard to be matched. Hell, they just switched from FMJ ammo a few years ago.

All kidding aside, I am a fan of the M&P rifles.

[Ropin4gold]

Detroit PD needs about 10X the rifles they ordered....

[TGO David]

I'm going to continue my M&P love-fest by getting the logo tattooed on my butt.

[Guest Todd@CIS]

I'm going to continue my M&P love-fest by getting the logo tattooed on my butt.

Don't worry about ever showing it to me...

[TGO David]

Don't worry about ever showing it to me...

Identifying Marks: other

[VERO1]

So LASD drops the MP for being unreliable and goes to Glock. Detroit dumps Glocks for being unreliable and goes to MP's. Maybe they could just trade for a while?

[Guest Archimedes]

I own an M&P15 and I LOOOOOOVE it.

<3 to my Glock, too, though....

~archi

[eapking]

I'll take the trigger on my M&P 9 anyday over the one on my G26.

[PaiMei]

And another agency drops Glock for M&P...

Badger Blogger Blog Archive Milwaukee PD will no longer “rock with their Glocks out”

text from article...

The .40 caliber Glock Model G-22 has been a favorite of law enforcement since its introduction in 1990, largely because of its reputation as a low-maintenance, reliable service weapon.

On Saturday, April 11, Milwaukee police officer Vidal Colon was injured in the line of duty while exchanging gunfire with a suspect when his gun, the law-enforcement version of the Glock G-22, reportedly failed to eject, or “stove-pipedâ€, causing a jam.

The malfunction led Smyrna, GA based Glock USA to replace roughly 2700 department-owned magazines thought to be the cause of the jamming issue, a widely reported occurrence among Glock owners and law enforcement personnel.

But in range tests, additional malfunctions were reported with the new magazines, as well.

Milwaukee Police Chief Edward Flynn issued a department-wide memo on Monday, announcing a total transition within the department to a Smith and Wesson M&P .40 caliber pistol. From Flynn’s memo:

“We believed that replacing the questionable magazines would provide an adequate and timely remedy to the problem. Glock replaced 2,700 pistol magazines at no cost to MPD. During the transition to the new magazines, however, additional malfunctions were reported on the range, including failure to eject and failure to extract. Our research indicates there have been no problems with the Smith and Wesson M & P .40 caliber. The switch-out will be done at no cost to the Department.â€

New MPD recruits will be the first to receive the Smith & Wessons, with the rest of the department to follow.

[Tempest455]

This series of products has been designed especially to address the needs of global law enforcement.....

Anyone else notice this choice of words?

[PaiMei]

[TGO David]

Global Law Enforcement = Agencies around the world. Not the UN World Police that are going to come and take all of your guns away from you, slap your wife and kick your dog.

[Guest canynracer]

Smith and Wesson M&P...the world is now complete.

[poak]

Global Law Enforcement = Agencies around the world. Not the UN World Police that are going to come and take all of your guns away from you, slap your wife and kick your dog.

You forgot to add, "and use secret marching orders hidden in plain sight on everyday traffic signs".

[Tempest455]

Global Law Enforcement = Agencies around the world.

And that's exactly how it should have been worded. I thought it was a poor combination of words considering the concern about that UN subject.

When things such as that are in quotes, they can be taken out of context.

[TGO David]

And that's exactly how it should have been worded. I thought it was a poor combination of words considering the concern about that UN subject.

When things such as that are in quotes, they can be taken out of context.

They probably figure there is little contingency for paranoia.

[Guest abailey362]

except on gun forums

[E4 No More]

I'm going to continue my M&P love-fest by getting the logo tattooed on my butt.

TMI!