Smith & Wesson announced the Massachusetts State Police and Vermont State Police selected the S&W M&P handgun as their primary duty pistol. MSP picked the M&P45 while VSP chose the M&P40. The Massachusetts State Police ordered 2,500 M&P45 pistols. The Vermont State Police ordered 390 of the M&P40 handguns.
I’m not sure what the two agencies were using most recently as duty pistols. Previously, MSP carried the SIG SAUER P226 in .40 S&W. The Vermont State Police also carried a SIG SAUER in .40 S&W: the P229. If anyone has specific information on what the two agencies most recently carried, please leave a comment below.
As I have discussed before, Smith & Wesson has made significant inroads into the law enforcement community with the M&P line. Hundreds of law enforcement organizations have adopted the M&P as a primary duty pistol including the Detroit PD, Milwaukee PD, Tampa PD, Atlanta PD and the state police departments/highway patrols of North Carolina, Washington, Colorado, Iowa, New Mexico and New Hampshire.
From Smith & Wesson:
Massachusetts State Police and Vermont State Police Select Smith & Wesson M&P Pistols
SPRINGFIELD, Mass., Dec. 12, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Smith & Wesson Holding Corporation (NASDAQ: SWHC), parent company of Smith & Wesson Corp., a U.S.-based leader in firearm design and manufacturing, today announced that it has received contracts from the Massachusetts State Police and the Vermont State Police for new duty firearms from the M&P Pistol Series. The Massachusetts State Police has selected the M&P45 pistol, while the Vermont State Police has adopted the M&P40 pistol as its new service firearm. Both of the statewide law enforcement agencies have initiated the transition process and Troopers are currently using the M&P pistol in the field.
Massachusetts State Police
As the nation’s oldest statewide police agency, the Massachusetts State Police has a rich history of service to its citizens and support of national events. Employing over 2,300 Troopers and 400 civilian support staff, the agency is responsible for criminal law enforcement and traffic vehicle regulations across the state. To better assist its Troopers with these responsibilities, the Massachusetts State Police has ordered 2,500 M&P pistols chambered in .45ACP.
During the agency’s independent testing and evaluation process, the M&P45 was judged against the department’s previously standard sidearm, as well as numerous other competitive products. At the conclusion of the trial, the M&P45 was selected due to its ergonomic design, accuracy, reliability, and the pistol’s ability to be customized to meet individual preferences. Smith & Wesson will support the firearm contract with a full range of services including armorer’s training. In addition to the M&P45 pistols, the Massachusetts State Police previously adopted the M&P15 tactical rifle from Smith & Wesson that currently serves as the State issued patrol rifle.
“We are extremely pleased with the decision by the Massachusetts State Police and the Vermont State Police to transition to the M&P pistol,” said Mario Pasantes, Smith & Wesson’s Senior Vice President of Marketing and Global Professional Sales. “We take pride in supplying law enforcement professionals with highly advanced, duty proven equipment, and we believe the M&P Series lives up to that standard. Selected for numerous awards and trusted by both officers and civilians, the popularity of the M&P pistol has been enduring. Today, over 800 law enforcement agencies have adopted or approved for duty use our M&P products. Our commitment to those who have put their trust in Smith & Wesson is steadfast.”
Pasantes added, “We are especially honored to serve the Massachusetts State Police, our home state force. Our employees take great pride in aligning with local law enforcement, and we look forward to expanding our relationship with the Massachusetts State Police and to seeing the M&P45 on the hips of our State Troopers.”
Vermont State Police
Through its contract with Smith & Wesson, the Vermont State Police has ordered 390 M&P40 pistols. During its open evaluation process, the M&P40 pistol received high marks by the Vermont troopers for its low perceived recoil, reliability during testing, and consistent performance. The new side arms are being supported with a full range of services from Smith & Wesson, including armorer’s training and advanced firearms training courses.