Sioux Falls, SD
You probably will not notice, but Sioux Falls Police officers will be carrying some new guns. The department is trading in its .40 caliber Glock handguns for 9mm Glock handguns. They are essentially twins, but officers can tell the difference.
"All of them found improvement. Shooting the nine millimeter versus .40 caliber," Sam Clemens said.
The guns are the same size and weight, but the 9mms have smaller barrels, carry smaller and more bullets, and have different springs inside.
"The big kicker with that is the nine millimeter has a lot less recoil than the 40 calibur," Clemens said.
This gives officers better control of the gun, and a more accurate shot.
"You want the bullets to go where you're aiming them. If there's a big recoil, somebody might flinch and there might be some stray rounds that go and there's the potential for some innocent person to be hurt or killed by that," Clemens said.
Though you can see the bullets are smaller than the old ones, Clemens said, based on ballistics, there really is no other difference. Officers have already started training with the new pieces.
"You're just not walking in and dropping in one gun and picking another," Clemens said.
The old .40 calibers have been purchased by a gun vendor, who will sell them. The department is still transitioning to the new style, but Clemens says officers still carry the same motto.
"We hope that we never have to use it, but we want to make sure we have it there, in case you have to use it and that's going to be to defend your life or protect somebody else's life," Clemens said.
News
General
Courts
Web Only
Crime
Outdoors
Events Center
Non-Homepage
Boredom Busters
Pipeline
Positively KELOLAND
Technology
Hunger
Affordable Care Act
Shops
Flooding
Remembering 9/11
Drought
JazzFest
Spring Storm
Honor Flight
Spencer Anniversary
Copper Lounge Collapse
Hidden History
Founder's Day
Eclipse
Holiday
Custer Fire
Pheasant Fest
DoApp
Health News
Business News
Sports
Agriculture
Markets
Livestock
Crops
Politics
HealthBeat
Cancer
Children's Health
Heart Health
Wellness & Nutrition
General
Health Beat
Women's Health
RX Resources
What's Going Around
OTC
Diabetes
Recalls
Dental Health
Men's Health
Politics
South Dakota
Legislature
Budget
Congress
Taxes
General
Local
Campaign
President
US Senate
New Laws
US House
Iowa
Ballot Issues
Local Races
Minnesota
Gubernatorial
Education
Funding
College
Elementary
High School
Pre K
School Supplies
Middle School
Sports
Professional
College
High School
Sports Zone
Headlines
Summit League Tournament
Olympics
Super Bowl
Racing
All Star
Golf
NCAA
Business
Industry
Your Money Matters
Development
Gas & Energy
Legislation
Economy/Stocks
Employment
General
Health Care
Technology
Education Funding
Tourism
Banking/Finance
Housing
Transportation
Insurance
Meetings & Events
Retail & Restaurants
All Industries
On The Move
Shops
Agriculture
Holiday Shopping
Trendigital
Featured Stories
Eye on KELOLAND
Inside KELOLAND
Weather
Snow
Forecast
Records
Rain
Flooding
Drought
WX Corner
General
World News
Investigates
Sponsored
KELOLAND Living
Done
Opening existing...