SPRINGFIELD, Mass. — Smith & Wesson Corp. will arm the South Australia Police Force’s (SAPOL) 4,000-officer front-line force with the company’s M&P 40 pistols.
SAPOL conducted a field trial during 2008 in which 502 operational country and metropolitan police officers received training in the safe handling and use of the M&P pistol and carried the firearm in an operational environment.
Deputy Police Commissioner Gary Burns, said, “Feedback from our officers was very positive and they welcome the introduction of the semi-automatic M&P 40. It will replace the Smith & Wesson .357 revolver which was previously standard issue.”
Officials at the agency indicated that in addition to delivering a higher magazine capacity than the previously issued revolvers, the M&P 40’s mechanism that prevents the pistol from firing if dropped and a sear release lever that eliminates the need to press the trigger in order to disassemble the firearm were important issues.
