I would change the policy for the whole team to carry 1911s. The Texas Rangers can carry the Staccato (formerly STI). It’s just a shorter 2011 double stack.

When I was a cop we used the P226 and could carry pretty much anything except single action pistols for off duty.

quote:

Originally posted by pedropcola:
While the general sentiment of being a leader first I agree with, carrying a “special” gun as Sheriff is largely ceremonial. Was Patton a dick or poor leader for carrying pearl handled Colts? Are you going to say no to the parking spot reserved in front too?

Patton was both a great wartime general AND famously a dick, though not particularly for his choice of personal sidearm. In those days the men were also allowed to carry personal handguns to war and many did, up to and including the Vietnam War. Nowadays he would be court-martialing troops caught downrange with personal weapons, and wearing his shiny pimp daddy revolver while passing sentence on some sergeant who brought his Glock on deployment would in fact be a dick move.

If the guys are allowed to carry an approved personal weapon, and the sheriff isn’t expected to do much street work himself, then I’d carry a 4” Royal Blue Python.

I would initially carry whatever my staff carried.

Take input from your command staff and from the deputies.

Be open to input and their ideas.

Don't do anything initially, but make slow changes over time as necessary once you have thoroughly heard everyone and vetted the information they are providing you.

Good advice Kev. Also, that pesky budget means that the good sheriff has to be a good steward with the people’s money. If they already have good Glock pistols, no need to upgrade for a while.

Since I have been involved in this exact topic on multiple occasions I'll give my input.

Your going to be the new kid on the block. Don't come in and start making sweeping changes from the start, even if there are problems. You will have time to sort that out.

I know, I know, your the boss and all, but that can be taken as a lack of confidence and or arrogance. Immediately, changing all kinds of stuff can appear as "I know it all" or the other guys didn't know squat.

Listen to staff and get their insight, and knowledge on the current climate of the agency, including firearms, equipment, salaries, etc.

What is the current duty weapon?, is it reliable? Is there even a need to change, other than because you want to? Is it cost effective? You may need that line item somewhere far more important, than new weapons.

Most employees would rather have a raise in pay or bump in benefits, rather than a new shiny pistol. Right now, hiring and retention are top priorities in LE around the county, so keep that in mind.

Remember, change for the sake of change, isn't always advantageous.

The opinions above are why I have never moved past the rank of Sgt in 30 years. You ask, and I'll tell you. I don't kiss ass, and my loyalty is to my agency and the residents we serve, not the current administrator. I also sleep very well at night, cause I never sold my soul

Lastly, I would allow deputies to carry the weapon of their choice from a list of approved weapons and specific calibers. That is my agencies policy.

TXPO

I'd move the department to the Walther PDP, make the PDP-F an option, as well as the Q4, where I'd personally carry a Q4.

Wasn't his question what he should carry?

Perhaps I missed it, but, I don't recall seeing him solicit recommendations for re-equipping the entire force?

quote:

Originally posted by ensigmatic:
Wasn't his question what he should carry?

Perhaps I missed it, but, I don't recall seeing him solicit recommendations for re-equipping the entire force?

And some of us have taken that in a direction of maintaining the same as the deputies but perhaps a more interesting choice than a Glock 19.

Glock 18

This is actually a great thread, thanks for the continued input. I’ve learned a long time ago that change for the sake of change is bad, and that change that occurs too rapidly after a change in leadership is often resisted. My plan is to not change a thing with any major policies for a minimum of 3 months. I will express our lack of support for unconstitutional gun laws right away, and begin acquiring what will need to be done to institute a paramedic fly car program right away, but would not change anything from the day to day operations for a few months. This isn’t a terribly large organization, less than 200 altogether, so I would intend to meet with every single employee, get to know more about them and their needs, and then after a couple months begin to start with some gradual changes.

Regarding this part of your post:
“I’m still pretty old fashioned in what I like and am still a huge fan of the 1911. I have always been a pretty big fan of the Commander sized 1911s to boot, and would probably commission a custom Wilson 4.25” commander as a celebration to go along with my other Wilsons of things go well. The question is would I carry something like that if given the chance? I think I probably would.”
My

I’m not a LEO, so I’ll leave the agency selection responses to those who are. However, your reference to Commander size 1911’s struck a respondent chord. Let me digress.

My post addresses the issue of what YOU would carry. I’d have to say that the 1911 would bridge two worlds. Even if a shooter prefers the advantages of modern plastic, the Old School single stack 1911 is still a formidable defensive handgun. Perps are unlikely to smile and say “Oh, he only has an obsolescent pistol with a steenkin nine rounds.”

I claim no originality here. One inspiration is Walt Rauch and the other is Sheriff Jim Wilson. Both carried 1911’s with either ivory ($$$) or stag grips. Both were fond of the gold bead front sight as well. With either a blued finish or a modern dark black finish, they come across as tastefully elegant and serious. Walt was a club member at my LGC before he passed away. I always liked Jim Wilson’s no-nonsense mag articles as much as I did Walt’s. Sadly, many of the old timers I learned from have passed away along with many of the handguns they favored. However, the 1911 still lives on.

While I carried a GM 1911 for 20 years, I prefer the Commander size and later carried that for a goodly number of years. Nowadays, I still carry my Wilson Pro (Cmdr 4.1”) on occasion, but have gravitated to my G19. Why? Got old (80). Still fast and accurate, but can’t move well. Would probably have to fight where I’m standing if the SHTF. No movement drills anymore.

Having digressed, I can say that the Wilson Pro shoots better than any of my other handguns. Not bad for an “obsolescent” pistol designed in 1909 and adopted by the US Army in 1911.

Fun thread. Good luck on the election.

An approved list of POWs would be a good thing. Options for striker, TDA, DAO....1911 style weapons if you so choose.


Put restrictions on holsters too, i.e. no SERPAs.


For you? A GP100 or Security Six in appropriate leather gear. Go Adam 12 old school and carry some dump pouches!

.

If elected Sheriff, I would follow department policy demonstrating to the Deputies and County Leaders that department policies are to be followed by everyone.

Don't be the leader that says do what I say, but ignore what I do because I'm the Sheriff.

I would also attend department training to evaluate what the deputies are receiving and look for improvements. Not just firearm training, I would look at training that covers new laws or court cases that change existing law.

What firearms does department policy say a deputy can carry?

.

quote:

Originally posted by TheNewbie:
An approved list of POWs would be a good thing. Options for striker, TDA, DAO....1911 style weapons if you so choose.


Re Put restrictions on holsters too, i.e. no SERPAs.
!

Brings up a good point!
Are we talking "personally owned weapons" or "department issue" gear?
Department issue stuff, and the term "cost effectiveness" comes up- (Thank God for Glock!)
Personally owned and there is sometimes a uniform allowance. There's also a list of "department approved" weapons you have to choose from. Sorry, no Jiminez, hi-point, Lorcin... Go get a real gun.

quote:

Originally posted by ensigmatic:
Wasn't his question what he should carry?

Perhaps I missed it, but, I don't recall seeing him solicit recommendations for re-equipping the entire force?

No it wasn’t.

The thread title clearly asks the question “What would YOU carry if you were elected Sheriff?”

Many of us are in the belief that when leaders have a “do as I say, not as I do” style of leadership, it negatively affects morale of the rank and file. And if you poll the rank and file in just about any agency, a chief complaint is leadership doing small things that makes them (and by extension their equipment) feel inferior. Kind of like getting written up for something that you were on a call with an officer (that later got promoted) who did the exact same thing.

Leaders that lead from the front, even from just their appearance, as being the agency’s “cops cop” suffers less of these types of issues. I am in charge of a team, and I have to show up every day with my gear squared away and act as hungry as my newest guy. The men respect that. I also try to live by the old adage of never asking anyone to do anything I can’t or won’t do. Which at my age means I have to work harder than my 30 year old operators.

Henceforth my answer, if I answer the question that has been asked, is a Glock 19 RMR with a Surefire X300 as my pistol. Because it is the issued gun.

As to the whole 1911 thing, it would be the one gun I wouldn’t allow in circulation.

You will always have your whiners, but in an agency morale is the quickest thing that drives down the effectiveness of a law enforcement agency.

From a practical and realistic point I would carry whatever the rank and file deputies carry.

If I was going to carry something just to different then I would go totally old school and get S&W Model 41 mag. That would be sure to turn some heads

Honestly, I like where LT Cheng's head is at. On the street, same uniform, weapon and gear as the team.

To the original question, If I was wearing a suit or dressing up for an appearance, an nice old revolver for a touch of nostalgia or an issued/authorized off duty gun. If I was feeling saucy or wanted to play RHIP I might break out the SIG 239 or Browniing Hight power with the hogue grips.

quote:

Originally posted by dcowboyscr:
I’d go old school and carry a Beretta 92

no offense or insult intended, but if a Beretta 92 is old school, I am a fossil

The sheriff for Harris County, TX (Houston metro) is a politician and probably hasn’t fired a weapon in years. If I were sheriff here, I would probably wouldn’t be able to carry out of fear that I would shoot one of our worthless city leaders for letting murderers, rapists, and pedophiles walk free.

+

Like other have already said, I would carry the issued gun. For office/admin stuff, it would be carried in a special holster, belt, combo. Some sort of exotic hide.

I used to have a Kramer sharkskin vertical scabbard, mag pouch and belt for my off-duty P225. It would get worn on special occasions and for court appearances.