Smith & Wesson Lands Massive M&P Contract with the L.A. Sheriff’s Department

Smith & Wesson Lands Massive M&P Contract with the L.A. Sheriff’s Department

Smith & Wesson M&P pistols are getting more and more popular with agencies across the nation, and the announcement that the L.A. Sheriff’s department has put ink to paper on a five-year contract for M&P handguns is a sign that their growing popularity isn’t slowing down.

The LASD is one of the largest sheriff’s departments in the country, with about 13,000 sworn and non-sworn personnel who carry service pistols, all in all over 18,000 employees working across many municipalities to serve and protect more than 3,000,000 people.

“The decision by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department represents a significant milestone in the history of the Smith & Wesson M&P Pistol Series,” said James Debney, Smith & Wesson president and CEO. The LASD has long been characterized by its high performance standards and comprehensive testing procedures for duty equipment. We view the department’s selection of the Smith & Wesson M&P9 as an endorsement of the winning attributes of the pistol as well as the professional services that support it.”

The decision to go with the M&P series follows a series of product evaluations to determine what service pistol would best meet their needs. Citing the pistols’ quality and reliability, the LASD also liked the interchangeable backstrap system and reversible magazine catch; features that allow those who carry them to customize their guns to their hands and handedness as well as the ability to field-strip the guns without having to pull the trigger.

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“The ability of our M&P Pistol to meet the high standards of the LASD and many other law enforcement agencies is a direct result of the commitment to quality and performance that is shared by all of us at Smith & Wesson, added Debney. “We are proud and honored to support the men and women of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department who dedicate themselves to the tireless support and protection of their communities.”

“It is the goal of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department to provide our personnel with the highest quality law enforcement equipment available. The partnership between Smith & Wesson and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department has provided a duty handgun with modern attributes and capabilities critical to enhancing the safety of our sworn personnel and the communities we serve,” said Sheriff Leroy Baca.

Just as private gun owners everywhere are turning to M&P pistols, so are law enforcement agencies in increasing numbers. This is a big win for Smith & Wesson, who will give the LASD personnel M&P training, including armorer’s courses in addition to “transitioning” training.

Smith & Wesson has a well-earned reputation for working with agencies that go with their products for duty use. They provide a great deal of support with low- to no-cost maintenance and product replacement.

When agencies do run into issues with M&P pistols, such as when the N.C. highway patrol discovered an extraction problem with all their M&Ps chambered in .357 SIG. Smith & Wesson responded to them immediately, offering to completely replace the failing pistols with new ones for free.

This is also good news for the company following the blanket safety notice of all M&P Shield pistols, which was an instant success when it was announced a little over a year ago. While not as bad as a recall, some of the guns have a faulty trigger safety that doesn’t reengage when the trigger is released. The issue is not common but may potentially affect any M&P Shield ever made.