Progression
Musgrove had followed the progression of carry optics adoption by police since the trend began, reviewing the literature, such as Aaron Cowan’s Sage Dynamics white paper. He and Deputies Zack Clark and Lee Willis went through red dot optics instructor school under Brandon White in 2022 and became convinced optic-sighted duty pistols were the way to go. Departments that had already made the adoption shared their results. An exhaustive study began.
There is a synergy involved when departments change guns. Because of the sea change in law enforcement to 9mm, they discovered none of the holster-makers had security scabbards that would fit large-frame .45s. Though the department had confidence in their .45s, the feeling was that hit delivery was the best route to incapacitating homicidal criminals, and a switch to 9mm was reluctantly accepted. Musgrove began an intense canvassing of LE agencies who had adopted the various currently popular models. He was particularly impressed when LAPD told him of their test of the FN 509, resulting in their adoption of that gun. Two test samples had gone over 10,000 rounds each without a single malfunction. SCSO SWAT had been very pleased with their FN SCAR rifles in terms of both performance and aftermarket support. Testing the FN 509 MRD LE, the LAPD gun, confirmed their research and that gun was chosen after they learned Safariland made security holsters for it, which would also accommodate their TLR-1 HL WMLs. The SCSO guns were ordered with flat triggers and 5.5-lb. pulls.
Next came optic selection. Again, canvassing other agencies showed recurrent problems with some MRDS units. The Trijicon products had stood up well in the field, but Musgrove didn’t like having to remove the RMR to replace the battery and then have to re-sight-in each pistol. The SRO was too big for the hood on any duty holster they could find. Ultimately, SCSO settled on the Holosun HE 507-GR X2. The GR stands for green dot; most of the deputies who tried it found it more visible than red. Moreover, there were at least three partially color-blind deputies who could not see a red dot. Each deputy would be issued three 17-round magazines of Hornady Critical Duty 124-grain +P 9mm ammo for carry.
The guns and holsters came in before the sights. To accelerate the change and build familiarity, the guns were issued and using the high backup iron sights, all deputies went through transition and shot qualifications with the FNs. Mild recoil and good shooting characteristics won over the few who were skeptical. All that remained was two training days per officer with the Holosuns installed, one each of day and night shooting.
Research, testing and rank-and-file feedback combined to create an effective adoption and transition with life-saving emergency rescue equipment.
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