LAPD Duty Weapons

[Mr. Ed]

My buddy is LAPD and he carries a Glock 22. As for the job, it's very admirable because they do a job that is very thankless in that community. The community wants them to clean up the city of all its thugs and gangbangers. Yet, once they start making the arrests, the same community members start to criticize them for arresting their sons, brothers, and dads. The cops there are awesome, the community sucks.

[vorpar]

Not sure if there's any similarity, but the police and sheriffs I've talked to in Santa Barbara all tell me that their sidearm is issued by the department, and they get to decide what their back-up piece is.

[CALI-gula]

Beretta, S&W and Glock are the approved firearms for the LAPD. The individual officer can decide if they want 9mm, .40 S&W or .45acp. In .45acp, as already noted, the Glocks had some issues. So for those who wants .45acp, it's either a Beretta or S&W. Only the SWAT team members are allowed to use 1911's, at least since I last spoke to my friend who's an LAPD officer.

While in downtown Los Angeles less than 2 weeks ago, I saw a motorcycle LAPD officer with a holstered 1911, very clear to see (no, he was not working Hollywood set-duty). And about 2 years ago, I saw an LAPD officer, looked to be in his early 30s, in the Hollywood area, responding to a minor break-in at one of my tenant's apartments, where he was clearly carrying a SIG ( it looked to be a 229 ).

But mostly, I have only seen Berettas, Glocks and a few Smiths. Ex LAPD police officer I work with states she was trained with and issued a Beretta.

.

[icormba]

I did once see cops at Venice beach carrying 1911's. this was a few years ago and I surprised the hell out of me. I also read that Hermosa Beach cops got 1911's, but I have no valid source for you.


The previous poster thast said you get a beretta, but can move to a glock or SW is what the LAPD detective I shoot with occasionally has told me.

I don't know if this is valid for Venice beach?
But I know that SJPD cops, while on "pay jobs" (overtime "rental cops"), can carry pretty much what ever sidearm they want... well, then again that was about 10 years ago! My contact used to carry a 1911 while on those jobs, but he couldn't carry the same gun while on "offical" duty.

[rorschach]

Oh I almost forgot, officers that were originally issued wheelguns can choose to carry them instead of autos. Once in a great while you'll see some white haired old-timer with a combat magnum on his hip.

I'm not too sure what LAPD's off duty and backup policy is, I know CHP has a list of approved weapons, mostly double action autos and revolvers, no single action stuff though. You must qualify with it and have an armorer check it out before carrying.

[bodyarmorguy27]

Thought I would hand out some better scoop for you guys.

Patrol:

Handguns:

S&W 9mm and .45, Beretta 92FS and Cougar 45, Glock 9mm (17 & 19), 45 (model 21), 40 cal (22&23). New "Boots" are showing up to roll call with Glocks in 40cal. And the S&W 38 revolver.

Some coppers put wood grips on their Berettas and Smiths so that may look like a 1911. I've worked here eight years and the only people I see carrying 1911s, are D-Team.

We are also authorized backup weapons. Usually, a snub nose or subcompact auto.

Shotguns:

Remington 870, some with Surefire lighting systems. Slug cadre officers have tricked out 870s that are issued to them.

Rifles:

UPR (Urban Police Rifle) surplus DRMO M16A1s. Usually issued with TA01 Acogs and Surefire M500 lights. I had to buy my own.

Yes, the job sucks sometimes but that can happen anywhere. When someone pisses me off, I can just transfer to one of 18 other patrol divisions. Promotions and job opportunities are also better. Not to mention always having Air Units available for your pursuits or perimeters.

PM me EBWhite if you need help with anything.

[juicy]

i always wanted to be a cop, and now seems like a good time to apply..
anything i should know before i apply?

[bodyarmorguy27]

Good communication skills and common sense. The rest you will learn from the academy, your training officers, and from experience.

[rorschach]

Good info armorguy, we needed someone to set us straight.

Don't you guys still use Ithaca M37 riot guns too? Not too long ago, while driving down 1st Street, I could have sworn I saw a Hollenbeck officer walking to his car from the temporary station with a 37.

A friend of mine was a LAPD K9 for a while before going to Wyoming and he says K9 handlers also had Benelli's

[Mike-4]

This only applies to back-up weapons. Off duty, CHP can carry anything they want, no qualifications required ..

FYI

Oh I almost forgot, officers that were originally issued wheelguns can choose to carry them instead of autos. Once in a great while you'll see some white haired old-timer with a combat magnum on his hip.

I'm not too sure what LAPD's off duty and backup policy is, I know CHP has a list of approved weapons, mostly double action autos and revolvers, no single action stuff though. You must qualify with it and have an armorer check it out before carrying.

[bodyarmorguy27]

Don't you guys still use Ithaca M37 riot guns too?

A friend of mine was a LAPD K9 for a while before going to Wyoming and he says K9 handlers also had Benelli's

Rorschach,

Yes there are still a few, I think, Ithacas floating around for the old timers.

K9 uses the Benelli M1s, as well as the narcotics guys.

Stay safe.

[asintado]

Out of curiosity, when speaking about off duty carry, must the officer carry his issued/dept. approved weapon while off duty or are they allowed to carry his own personal firearm of his choice?

[VeryCoolCat]

I wonder if any officers carry the Five-seveN..... they could use the 5.7x28 ball that has the tumble ability.

[rips31]

I wonder if any officers carry the Five-seveN..... they could use the 5.7x28 ball that has the tumble ability.

all 5.7x28 ammo yaws/tumbles, some more than others. i know of several leo that carry the fiveseven, just not in kalifornistan.

[VeryCoolCat]

all 5.7x28 ammo yaws/tumbles, some more than others. i know of several leo that carry the fiveseven, just not in kalifornistan.

5.7x28 may tumble but civilians can only purchase lead free hollow point basically turning it into a .22 hollow point round. FMJ was designated AP as it can go through vests.