That's the approved gun list for any private purchases to use on duty.
I can give some history on it, as I was SDPD from 94-06. Prior to 2003, the issued guns were most Ruger P series 9mm guns with exception of a few years where they offered recruits Beretta DAO 92s, S&W 5900 series DAO's or the Rugers. Approved for private purchase were Beretta 92's, S&W's both 2nd and 3rd gens autos in 9mm and Sig 226, 228, 229's. These were duty only. Off duty ranged all over the usual .38's or .380s. I carried my 1994 Sig 226 from day 1, shown here during it's last SWAT days before I switched to the 1911 platform for good in 2003.
SWAT was approved for .45acp in the Sig P220/245's. The entire rest of the Dept was still 9mm only.
Long guns were very worn out fleet Remington 870's and a few Smith and Wesson pump 12ga's here and there. You'd grab a different one off the shelf every day if you wanted to carry one. After the LA North Hollywood shootout, they upgrades us to Ruger PC9 carbines....oof. Thanks for the big pistol.
Enter 2003 - new to the Department was Chief William Lansdowne from outside (San Jose if I recall). I'll keep this discussion centered around his firearms activity and not the rest of the show.
One of his first days there, he's walking through the Watch Commanders Office in his new uniform and shiny 1911 on his hip. The 35plus year grizzled Sergeant working the Watch Commanders Office says "Yo Chief, you can't wear that 1911 here anymore....we haven't approved those for many years....".
The next day a new Department Order came out concerning authorized firearms. Basically anything you want in 9mm, 40 or .45acp. If it passed a basic inspection and you could qualify with it, you could carry it. Those range instructors were swamped the next year, putting on new transition classes, qualifications, armorers courses and more.... morale boosted! Boy you'd see everything too. We even had one traffic guy show up with a Walther of some type, where he had to have a custom holster made and it wasn't ever considered a duty gun anywhere. Soon after, Colt AR's went department wide as an option as well. What Cozmo posted above is the toned down current list, to at least get a bit of control on what's out there. Glad to see it's still going strong with todays Cali environment.
Here in Anchorage, it's been much the same for a long time. Anything from Glock, Sig, SW, STI, Nighthawk, Wilson, Beretta and a few others....in 9mm, 40, 45, 10mm, .357sig... We'll issue you a Glock. Anything else is on you. Same with rifles, although we issue pretty well equipped AR's from Colt and Sionics. My current carry is either a Wilson or Colt depending on the day and dress, a Sig P365 off duty and a Noveske N4 as the rifle.
Hey Coz - thanks for the walk down memory lane...