Maywood Armory

The Maywood Police Department currently employs the .40 Cal. Glock, Semi Auto Pistol to keep the Borough safe and to protect its sworn officers. All members are given the opportunity to choose their weapon, either the Glock 22 or Glock 23. The reason for the choice is that some members elect to carry their duty weapon off duty, when this occurs the Model #23 is the weapon of choice being that it is more concealable.

Prior to 1989 the department along with the majority of agencies throughout the United States was a revolver orientated agency. With the passing of the Old Guard a decision was made to update to the newer and more reliable semi-automatic pistol. A search committee was put together to test and evaluate which type of handgun would fit this agencies needs. Reliability, Safety Features, Accuracy, and Ease of Transition were among the many items determined to find the right weapon which would best suit our agencies needs. The caliber of the weapon was to be the 9 mm, and the committee would have to also consider adapting the one gun concept, ( One weapon for both on duty and off duty purposes). Numerous manufacturers weapons were tested and evaluated by the departments firearms instructors, and by a select group of shooters from within the department. When the test and evaluation period was completed the weapon that was chosen was the Glock Model 17 & 19. The members were allowed to choose either the smaller version ,Model 19, for concealability, or accept the larger version of the Model 17. In August of 1989 a 3 day transitional program was instituted and the Maywood Police Department was armed with the semi-automatic handgun along with the one gun concept.

In 1993 a decision was made to upgrade to the more powerful .40 Cal. Glock weapons,due to the increased stopping power of the .40 Caliber cartridge. These weapons were the exact same copy of the 9MM weapons with the exception of a few minor changes. Members were also given the same opportunity to choose the size of the weapon they wanted to carry, either the Glock 23, smaller version or the standard model Glock 22.

In 1995 Glock introduced a smaller version of the .40 Cal. Pistol, the Glock 27, many people refer to this weapon as the Pocket Glock or the Baby Glock, due to the weapons size for concealability. The Chief of our agency was approached by the members of the department to change the policy of the one gun concept allowing the members to purchase the smaller version to carry for off duty and concealment purposes. He agreed that if the weapon stood up to the high standards of our duty weapons, he would implement a policy so that the individual officer may purchase and carry this weapon off-duty. A test weapon was secured from our firearms distributor and was tested,this weapon received outstanding reviews by all members and the Chief. The decision was made to adapt the Glock Model 27 into our arsenal for use by our Detective Division, and for Off Duty needs.

A 12 Gauge Remington Model 870 Shotgun with 2 shot magazine extender is standard issue and available in all marked patrol units. All patrol vehicles are fitted with interior roof mounted shotgun racks where this weapon is easily accessible to the officer should, the immediate need to use it occur. This weapons has a capacity of 6 rounds of 00 Buck Shot which is standard issue.

As with all weapons officers must be proficient and skilled in the weapons they carry or assigned to. Safety is of the utmost concern along with the rules of the Use of Deadly Force. Qualifications are held Semi-annually ,along with deadly force training and firearms safety. Members are trained under the Attorney Generals Guidelines, Department Firearms Instructors use numerous stress related courses throughout the training day that far more supersede the courses that we are required to qualify under the state guidelines. Each member receives a full day of training at the range and expends approximately 500 rounds of ammunition through the course of his training day. Combat shotgun is also incorporated in the training period along with the use of low level light night fire.

It is the departments goal that conventional and practical training will provide the officer with a greater advantage towards an opponent where the use of deadly force may come into focus.

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