JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office confirmed that it has authorized the use of another handgun for its officers other than the current standard-issued GLOCK.
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On April 15, News4JAX contacted JSO, asking if they were in the process of upgrading their guns, to which the agency said:
The agency is not currently upgrading issued firearms from Glock to Staccatto firearms, though some have been purchased for testing and evaluation purposes and for the SWAT unit.
As a result, Firearms Training Academy personnel have also been trained in their use to ensure proficiency among those who have been issued the firearm.
Officers have been given the authority to purchase a Staccatto at their own expense and, once trained and proficient with the firearm, may carry it on-duty as a substitute to the issued GLOCK firearm.
JSO spokesperson
News4JAX followed up on JSO’s response, particularly on why officers are being given the option to purchase a Staccato at their own expense, to which JSO provided the following response:
The practice of JSO authorizing secondary or back-up firearms has been in effect, spanning multiple administrations.
These include both handguns as well as rifles that are purchased by the employee. Provided the firearms are authorized by the training academy, and the officer has shown proficiency in the firearm, he/she may carry them on their person or in their vehicles in an official capacity.
JSO spokesperson
Tom Hackney, News4JAX’s crime and safety analyst, said “there’s absolutely nothing wrong” with the agency signing off on the switch.
“There’s absolutely nothing wrong with the manufacturer of Staccato firearms; they operate fine,” Hackney said. “They’re manufactured well, however, it’s just a different model of gun, different manufacturer, obviously, than what the issued and initial trained firearm is, so that’s not a problem.”
Hackney adds that the decision to permit law enforcement to personalize their gear can boost confidence and effectiveness, but said he can envision a specific challenge arising with the switch.
“So with the difference between now you’re going to carry a Staccato and I’m carrying a GLOCK, I would not have that ability to interchange the magazines between us in a prolonged gun battle,” Hackney said. “Does that happen? Obviously, not every day. Does that have the potential for happening? Sure. So those are just concerns and issues that have always kind of come into place in law enforcement about carrying different manufacturers’ firearms within the same agency.”
Hackney noted that while the policy change may not be a game-changer for the department, it does reflect a growing trend of officers seeking more control over their equipment and training.
“You find officers who are willing to go spend their own money on a different frame firearm, a different manufacturer, somebody they feel like could maybe provide them better service,” he said. “And again, that’s what it comes down to, really, is does that officer think that what they’re going to get is a better level of service from a Staccato versus a GLOCK? It’s a bit of a personal preference.”
It remains unclear how widespread the adoption of the Staccato handgun will be.
On Staccato’s website, it says its guns are trusted by over 1,600 agencies, including:
- Beaver Borough Police Department (SWAT)
- Belmont Police Department
- Carson City Sheriff’s Department
- City of Lakeland Police Department (SWAT)
- Dallas Police Department (SWAT)
- Franklin County Sheriff’s Department (SWAT)
- Harris County Sheriff’s Department
- Houston Police Department
- Jacksonville Sheriff’s Department (SWAT)
- Las Vegas Metro Police Department
- Long Beach Police Department
- Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department
- Los Angeles Police Department
- Mississippi Alcoholic Beverage Control
- Miami-Dade Police Department (SRT)
- North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigations
- Orange County Sheriff’s Department (SWAT)
- Parker County Sheriff’s Department (SWAT)
- Petersburg Alaska Police Department
- Pomona Police Department
- Riverside County Sheriff’s Department
- Riverside County Sheriff’s Department (SWAT)
- Roanoke County Police Department
- Solano County Sheriff’s Department
- Southern Methodist University Police
- Texas Rangers
- Unified Police Department
The price for the Staccato handguns, depending on upgrades, ranges anywhere from $2,299 to $4,299.
Meanwhile, a GLOCK 19 can be valued anywhere between $475 and $600, depending on condition.
