Kevin
05-07-09, 17:25
http://www.masslive.com/hampfrank/republican/index.ssf?/base/news-19/1241513419113430.xml&coll=1
Milwaukee to buy S&W handguns
Tuesday, May 05, 2009
By JIM KINNEY
Business writer
SPRINGFIELD - The Milwaukee Police Department, lead by former Springfield Police Commissioner Edward A. Flynn, is switching to Smith & Wesson handguns.
The Milwaukee Department has ordered 2,000 Smith & Wesson M&P polymer-framed pistols chambered for .40-caliber ammunition, Springfield-based Smith & Wesson announced Monday.
The handguns retail for $719 each, making the deal worth a potential $1.43 million, Smith & Wesson director of media relations Paul J. Pluff said. But Smith & Wesson will likely reduce that amount by taking firearms back from the Milwaukee Police Department as trade-ins, he said.
Flynn served as the Springfield police commissioner for less than two years before leaving in January 2008 to become Milwaukee's police chief. Previously he'd served as Massachusetts commissioner of public safety.
Pluff said he was unaware of what impact Flynn's experience here had on the department's decision to switch from Glock handguns to Smith & Wesson handguns. Pluff said Cincinnati recently switched to Smith & Wesson as well.
In January, The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration placed the Smith & Wesson M&P - or Military & Police - series of pistols on a list of firearms DEA agents are allowed to purchase for themselves and carry on duty.
Last fall, Milwaukee started switching from patrol shotguns to Smith & Wesson's M&P rifles.
"This has been happening as we work to re-establish our preeminence in the law-enforcement field," Pluff said.
Pluff said the M&P series is popular among police because the safety and magazine can be operated with either hand. Also, the handguns grips come in three different sizes so the guns can be adjusted to fit the different-sized hands of both men and women police officers.
Smith & Wesson is also expected to compete for $500 million in handgun contracts the Pentagon is expected to put out for bid in the near future. The handguns would be issued to the Army, Air Force and Special Operations Command.
Founded in 1852, Smith & Wesson employs about 1,000 people at its headquarters and factory on Roosevelt Avenue where the handguns are made and another 200 at factories in Houlton, Maine, and Rochester, N.H.
Jim Kinney can be reached at jkinney@repub.com
Milwaukee to buy S&W handguns
Tuesday, May 05, 2009
By JIM KINNEY
Business writer
SPRINGFIELD - The Milwaukee Police Department, lead by former Springfield Police Commissioner Edward A. Flynn, is switching to Smith & Wesson handguns.
The Milwaukee Department has ordered 2,000 Smith & Wesson M&P polymer-framed pistols chambered for .40-caliber ammunition, Springfield-based Smith & Wesson announced Monday.
The handguns retail for $719 each, making the deal worth a potential $1.43 million, Smith & Wesson director of media relations Paul J. Pluff said. But Smith & Wesson will likely reduce that amount by taking firearms back from the Milwaukee Police Department as trade-ins, he said.
Flynn served as the Springfield police commissioner for less than two years before leaving in January 2008 to become Milwaukee's police chief. Previously he'd served as Massachusetts commissioner of public safety.
Pluff said he was unaware of what impact Flynn's experience here had on the department's decision to switch from Glock handguns to Smith & Wesson handguns. Pluff said Cincinnati recently switched to Smith & Wesson as well.
In January, The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration placed the Smith & Wesson M&P - or Military & Police - series of pistols on a list of firearms DEA agents are allowed to purchase for themselves and carry on duty.
Last fall, Milwaukee started switching from patrol shotguns to Smith & Wesson's M&P rifles.
"This has been happening as we work to re-establish our preeminence in the law-enforcement field," Pluff said.
Pluff said the M&P series is popular among police because the safety and magazine can be operated with either hand. Also, the handguns grips come in three different sizes so the guns can be adjusted to fit the different-sized hands of both men and women police officers.
Smith & Wesson is also expected to compete for $500 million in handgun contracts the Pentagon is expected to put out for bid in the near future. The handguns would be issued to the Army, Air Force and Special Operations Command.
Founded in 1852, Smith & Wesson employs about 1,000 people at its headquarters and factory on Roosevelt Avenue where the handguns are made and another 200 at factories in Houlton, Maine, and Rochester, N.H.
Jim Kinney can be reached at jkinney@repub.com