NASHUA POLICE
6 February 2018
intradepartmental Communication
To: Deputy Chief Michael Carignan
From: Captain Eric Nordengren
Subject: Duty Handgun Selection
Sir,.
The Nashua Police Department currently issues the Smith and Wesson M&P 40 pistol to all officers.
Narcotics Intelligence Detectives are issued the sub compact version of this pistol. As its name
denotes the pistol utilizes the .40 caliber Smith and Wesson cartridge. We are currently in our second
generation of this pistol which at the writing of this report is approximately 4 years into its service life.
With anticipated replacement needed in the 5 to 7 year range | am prepared to recommend moving
forward with the purchase of the Sig Sauer P320 Pistol in 9mm caliber. This represents a change not
only in the make of the pistol but also a change in the caliber of the round utilized by the Nashua
Police Department. Outlined below are the supporting arguments for this course of action.
Background
During the mid 1990's while the Nashua Police Department was still utilizing a Beretta pistol a
change from 9mm to the .40 caliber model took place. This was a typical decision of that time frame.
The .40 S&W cartridge debuted in January of 1990 and had been built from the ground up as a “law
enforcement” cartridge. It was developed in a partnership between the FBI and Smith and Wesson
due in large part to the 1986 Miami Shootout. We remained in the .40 caliber Berettas until 2001
when a change was made to the Glock brand of pistol, still in .40caliber. There were many
advantages to the Glock model over the Beretta including ergonomics, trigger pull, and models of
different size to accommodate smaller statured officers as well as divisional assignments. The Glock
is a striker fired polymer pistol providing better durability and lighter weight than the Berettas we were
in at that time. Glock was and still is one of the most popular brands in Law Enforcement. Glocks
were initially purchased for the female officers in the department followed by a purchase for the
whole department with the cost being partially offset by the Berettas being traded in.
In 2009 Smith and Wesson had recently brought their new M&P line of pistols to the market. They
were aggressively marketing this pistol and as a result we were able to transition to a new gun on
what was basically a one for one trade. Our Giock pistols and holsters for new M&P pistols and
holsters. At the time our Glock pistols were well into their service life and we were beginning to
experience parts breakage as well as other wear issues. The new M&P line incorporated many of the
positive design features of the Glock but with some important advances. interchangeable grip sizes,
