The near future will see a force-wide change in firearms within the Singapore Police Force (SPF) — frontline officers will soon shed their currently-issued .38 Taurus revolvers in exchange for modern semi-automatic pistols, like the most of the world’s cops.
According to sources speaking to The Straits Times, the police have been field-testing various models of pistols over the course of several months, a “Central European 9mm pistol” is the favourite among those currently tested. We’re guessing it’s a Sig Sauer, Glock or Beretta.
The switch to pistols is reportedly brought about by the need to tackle heightened security threats.
This change of firearms will put an end to the approximately 15-year long tenure of the Taurus revolver – which is known to be used only by the SPF and no other international law officials. It was in 2002 when the powerful revolver took over from the 5-shot .3 Smith & Wesson Model 36.
The thing about revolvers is that they take way longer to reload ammo, and they hold lesser rounds than their semi-automatic cousins. Modern semi-autos have better safety features, hold more ammo and are quicker to reload. So really, it’s about time local police officers upgraded their weaponry.
Various countries throughout the world have long put to rest the revolvers as standard issue among police forces, with France seemingly the only known country that still utilises the Manurhin MR 73 revolver force-wide. Obviously, that doesn’t mean officials have retired revolver models completely, as they still offer more stopping power – not to mention less tendency to jam – than the average pistol.
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