State Troopers Turning In all Pistols for Newer Models

HAGERSTOWN - 5/10/2008

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During the Hagerstown “Capital For A Day” Cabinet meeting hosted by Governor Martin O’Malley and Lt. Governor Anthony Brown, Maryland State Police Superintendent Colonel Terrence B. Sheridan announced commencement of a transition that will equip state troopers with new Beretta pistols to replace the current model that is more than 10 years old.  The process has begun to transition State Police pistols to the Beretta Px4 Storm, a .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol.  Since early 1997, Maryland state troopers have carried the Beretta 96D .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol.                      “This conversion to new weapons is part of our ongoing effort to ensure our state law enforcement personnel have up-to-date equipment,” Governor Martin O’Malley said.  “This is especially important when it involves equipment so closely related to officer safety and the ability of police officers to protect our citizens.” “The Maryland State Police is pleased to continue our long partnership with Beretta by upgrading the pistols our troopers carry to the new Beretta Px4 Storm,” said Colonel Terrence B. Sheridan, Superintendent of the Maryland State Police.  “After rigorous testing by Maryland State Police experts, the Storm has proven that its simplistic design, safety features, ability to individualize fit, ease of maintenance, and overall dependability make it the firearm ideally suited for use by Maryland state troopers as they continue to serve and protect the people of our State.” The current Maryland State Police Academy trooper candidate class will be the first to be trained on the new weapons.  Additional shipments will be received from Beretta in the coming months.  Training and conversion will continue until all sworn troopers carry the Beretta Storm.  The conversion is expected to be completed by the end of the year.  The wear and tear of more than ten years on the current pistols caused Maryland State Police officials to look for a new, up-to-date weapon that will serve the troopers for many years to come.  State Police firearms experts tested several different types of pistols and found the Berretta Px4 Storm to be a dependable weapon that would withstand the rigors of police use.  The Maryland State Police and Beretta USA Corporation agreed to an exchange program.  State Police will be returning the Beretta 96D pistols to Beretta USA, in exchange for new Beretta Px4 Storm pistols.  Funding for the new handguns was not a part of this year’s budget negotiations in the General Assembly Session.  There will be no cost to the Maryland State Police for the acquisition of the 1,650 new pistols.

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