Depart issue pistol vs. Your own?

[ap3572001]

I looked at several articles about officer involved shootings ( on and off duty).Several times they mentioned if department issue weapon was used or officer's own handgun. Whats the difference? Why is it important?

[NorCalXJ]

i would also like to know(wannabe officer ). Maybe it is a training issue.

[Armed24-7]

It is not important, unless the officer used a weapon which is not authorized by his/her department. If an officer were to use a weapon no authorized for use by the department, an attorney can make an issue out it in a civil case. Essentially, it coes down to a "training issue" and the officer's ability to use that weapon accurately.

My department issues only 1 type/brand/model weapon but they have a large list of weapons they authorize us to purchase on our own to use while on and/or off duty. When buying our own weapon, we just have to make sure we qualify with it.

Some law enforcement agencies penalize officers who use unauthorized weapons, especialy if you shoot someone with it. It can range from formal written reprimands, to several day suspension without pay.

There would be no legitimate reason for an officer to carry an unauthorized weapon, so I have never seen any problems relating to your question.

There are exceptions; when an officer is in/at his home and something happens where deadly force is necessary. At that point, any weapon can be used (weapon of opportunity). I have several weapons at my disposal at my home and I would not hesitate to use the closest or most effection weapon regardless. Nobody would question it.

[Ron-Solo]

It is not important, unless the officer used a weapon which is not authorized by his/her department. If an officer were to use a weapon no authorized for use by the department, an attorney can make an issue out it in a civil case. Essentially, it coes down to a "training issue" and the officer's ability to use that weapon accurately.

My department issues only 1 type/brand/model weapon but they have a large list of weapons they authorize us to purchase on our own to use while on and/or off duty. When buying our own weapon, we just have to make sure we qualify with it.

Some law enforcement agencies penalize officers who use unauthorized weapons, especialy if you shoot someone with it. It can range from formal written reprimands, to several day suspension without pay.

There would be no legitimate reason for an officer to carry an unauthorized weapon, so I have never seen any problems relating to your question.

There are exceptions; when an officer is in/at his home and something happens where deadly force is necessary. At that point, any weapon can be used (weapon of opportunity). I have several weapons at my disposal at my home and I would not hesitate to use the closest or most effection weapon regardless. Nobody would question it.

As usual, excellent summation.

[CalCop]

I don't like my department's issue weapon, so I carry my personal handgun on duty. In my dept, you have to have the weapon inspected by the rangemaster, do some paperwork, and qualify with the weapon the same as the guys using the dept issued weapon. As long as you don't make a modification after the rangemaster inspects and approves it....it is just the same as a dept issued weapon.

[Armed24-7]

As usual, excellent summation.

Now if I can learn how to type!

[friedokra]

When I was first hired by my old department years ago (not LEO any more) the training officer asked me what weapon I was going to use. I asked what they issued, and he said it was a .38 revolver, or get your own.

We had a wierd mix of handguns, most of the guys on my shift had Glocks, some had Sigs, a few 1911's, one guy even had a .45 Long Colt revolver.

[Jonathan Doe]

The departments have specific issued firearms or authorized firearms. The same goes for the ammunition.

As a person who examines pistols from officers who are involved shooting, There is no difference as long as;

1. The pistol was issued by the department or authorized (actually I do not need to know. The investigators will find out),

2. As long as the pistol was within the factory spec, and

3. Ammunition was department issue, or purchased from the department.

If the pistol/ammunition is out of spec., I report it as is to the investigators. They will deal with the issue.

[pitbuljake]

I looked at several articles about officer involved shootings ( on and off duty).Several times they mentioned if department issue weapon was used or officer's own handgun. Whats the difference? Why is it important?

Our department range master was reasonable for purchasing, issuing and training of all on duty weapons/ammunition. His belief, training and former law enforcement career school of thought was that all on duty weapons be of the same make, model, caliber and use the same ammunition.

For what purpose? If an officer(s) got involved in a fire fight type shooting on duty and an officer were to go down (god forbid) and could no longer fire, then any other officer still engaged could use that downed officers weapon or magazine(s) to continue the fight since we were all trained on the same weapon.

Off duty or backup weapon was not as important.

[RileyBean]

It is not important, unless the officer used a weapon which is not authorized by his/her department. If an officer were to use a weapon no authorized for use by the department, an attorney can make an issue out it in a civil case. Essentially, it coes down to a "training issue" and the officer's ability to use that weapon accurately.

My department issues only 1 type/brand/model weapon but they have a large list of weapons they authorize us to purchase on our own to use while on and/or off duty. When buying our own weapon, we just have to make sure we qualify with it.

Some law enforcement agencies penalize officers who use unauthorized weapons, especialy if you shoot someone with it. It can range from formal written reprimands, to several day suspension without pay.

There would be no legitimate reason for an officer to carry an unauthorized weapon, so I have never seen any problems relating to your question.

There are exceptions; when an officer is in/at his home and something happens where deadly force is necessary. At that point, any weapon can be used (weapon of opportunity). I have several weapons at my disposal at my home and I would not hesitate to use the closest or most effection weapon regardless. Nobody would question it.

Yep.

I worked for the State of ________, and our agency only issued the 92fs. I have small paws, and also prefer 4" systems for concealment when needed.

We were allowed to qualify with the agency weapon or a Glock 19. So I bought the Glock 19, had it approved by the rangemaster, qualified with it each quarter, and carried it every day.

I NEVER worried about using an "approved" weapon vrs. what the agency buys. Approved it approved.

As others have said, it's when you carry unapproved stuff you can be in a BIG jam (not only firearms, but ammo/baton/ASP/pepper spray/rifle, etc...). When in LE, ONLY carry items you are approved and qualified for (this goes from your firearm to your pepper spray).

Off duty items carried in public also needed to be approved [i.e. if "off duty" gun is different from "on duty" gun (mine were not different-so, never an issue for me personally) ].

At home - anything goes [well not "anything" (illegal NFA, etc...) - but you get what I'm saying.]

[CalCop]

Off duty items carried in public also needed to be approved

This is not necessarily the case. The CA Penal Code allows most peace officers (beginning with PC 830.1) to carry any handgun off-duty, as long as they are authorized to carry an on-duty weapon. Some agencies require their officers to qualify with their off-duty weapon, but that is just agency policy, not law. So, if you did carry an off-duty weapon without permission, in an agency that requires you to qualify with your off-duty weapon, you would be perfectly legal....but might be open to administrative action at work.

[Armed24-7]

Yep.

I worked for the State of ________, and our agency only issued the 92fs. I have small paws, and also prefer 4" systems for concealment when needed.

We were allowed to qualify with the agency weapon or a Glock 19. So I bought the Glock 19, had it approved by the rangemaster, qualified with it each quarter, and carried it every day.

I NEVER worried about using an "approved" weapon vrs. what the agency buys. Approved it approved.

As others have said, it's when you carry unapproved stuff you can be in a BIG jam (not only firearms, but ammo/baton/ASP/pepper spray/rifle, etc...). When in LE, ONLY carry items you are approved and qualified for (this goes from your firearm to your pepper spray).

Off duty items carried in public also needed to be approved [i.e. if "off duty" gun is different from "on duty" gun (mine were not different-so, never an issue for me personally) ].

At home - anything goes [well not "anything" (illegal NFA, etc...) - but you get what I'm saying.]

Long ago when I went through the academy, they issued us the S&W model-15 revolver. I bought and carried the S&W model 686. When my department switched to the Beretta 92F, I carried that for a while until they came up with a nice list of weapons they would authorize us to use. I then switched to a H&K USP 45, although they will authorize us to carry a large variety of 9mm or .45 caliber weapons, but some approved for off-duty and on-duty were different.

But yes, LEO's can carry any gun they want. But if you use it, you suffer whatever discipline your department dishes out for using a non-authorized weapon.

My department allows a fairly wide range of brands and models.

[Jonathan Doe]

This is not necessarily the case. The CA Penal Code allows most peace officers (beginning with PC 830.1) to carry any handgun off-duty, as long as they are authorized to carry an on-duty weapon. Some agencies require their officers to qualify with their off-duty weapon, but that is just agency policy, not law. So, if you did carry an off-duty weapon without permission, in an agency that requires you to qualify with your off-duty weapon, you would be perfectly legal....but might be open to administrative action at work.

Whatever the Panal Code says, my department has a list of specific authorized firearms you can carry on or off duty. You have to be trained and qualified to carry the firearm you intended to carry. And, no matter which firearm you decide to carry, my department has specific ammunition that you can carry in the firearm whether it is 9mm, 45 or 38 Special.

[Armed24-7]

Whatever the Panal Code says, my department has a list of specific authorized firearms you can carry on or off duty. You have to be trained and qualified to carry the firearm you intended to carry. And, no matter which firearm you decide to carry, my department has specific ammunition that you can carry in the firearm whether it is 9mm, 45 or 38 Special.

If you don't mind me asking......do you work for LASD? I figured you must since those three calibers are the only 3 allowed by them. I work for LASD myself....I don't mind saying so.

[RileyBean]

This is not necessarily the case. The CA Penal Code allows most peace officers (beginning with PC 830.1) to carry any handgun off-duty, as long as they are authorized to carry an on-duty weapon. Some agencies require their officers to qualify with their off-duty weapon, but that is just agency policy, not law. So, if you did carry an off-duty weapon without permission, in an agency that requires you to qualify with your off-duty weapon, you would be perfectly legal....but might be open to administrative action at work.

Not penal code - department policy. The penal code won't help you if you lose your job and ability to carry. Why even risk it?

Department policy trumps penal code in this area.