Jeez @clob94, I don't know how old you think I am, but you aren't far off. When I got hired, shortly after "Lone Wolf Gonzales retired, I had a buddy who had already been a cop for 5 years and had his FFL. He tells me I can borrow his S&W 686 for my first year on, since he knew money would be short. (I was in my 20s and all spare money was invested in booze and broads). I had also fired his 686, was comfortable with it and thought it was mighty nice of him since I could then save for a year and then decide what I wanted to pack on a more permanent basis.He didn't have a choice what he got to carry.
So there I was, minding my own bidness, fat, dumb and happy, sitting in my academy class on Day 1. We get the welcome aboard speech from the Chief and then a Captain, and then....in walks the department range officer who promptly announces that we all need to cut him a check for $500. The department had decided, with my academy class, to begin the switchover to .45 cal semi-automatic handguns and we were required to purchase them. The weapon we would be buying was the S&W 4506. There was no choice involved. I spent most of my first paycheck just getting equipped.
Sure I was pissed at first, but man I came to love that gun. I shot lights out with it and it definitely got someone's attention when you pointed it in their direction. Sadly my ex-wife has it somewhere in Nevada now.