GENESEO, ILL. – Springfield Armory® is proud to announce that, as the result of intensive and rigorous testing, the Henderson Police Department (HPD) of Henderson, Nevada, has adopted the full-size Echelon 4.5F and compact 4.0C 9mm pistols for use by its officers.

Recognizing that previously adopted pistols employed by the department did not provide an ideal fit for the wide variety of its officers’ hand sizes, the HPD instituted a comprehensive review of its weapons platforms that revealed numerous deficiencies. It was decided to identify a new platform that adhered to the following design requirements: striker-fired, modular design (adaptable to different hand sizes), fully ambidextrous controls, increased magazine capacity, factory-installed night sights, and an optics-ready slide.

Over the course of several months, the Springfield Armory Echelon 9mm (along with numerous competitive designs) was rigorously tested under a wide range of conditions and with a broad selection of loadings. In addition to these internal evaluations, multiple open-range sessions were hosted to allow all HPD officers to test the review pistols and fill out an objective 14-category rating form. The result? All pistols tested ran flawlessly, and the HPD officers overwhelmingly selected the Springfield Armory Echelon as their preferred platform.

According to Lieutenant Craig Mancuso of the HPD’s In-Service Training Division, “The Echelon met every one of our design goals. It provided a modular, striker-fired, ambidextrous and optics-ready system with extended 20-round magazines. We also procured a selection of large and small grip modules to ensure every officer achieved an ideal fit.”

As was the case during the initial testing phase, the Echelon proved to be an exceptional choice and very popular with the officers during the adoption process. For the first time in the HPD’s history — across both the Police and Corrections Divisions — every officer successfully passed handgun qualification on the first attempt.

In its review of the qualification testing, the HPD determined the Echelon’s customizable ergonomics and modular design significantly improved performance among the less-proficient shooters while also maintaining top-tier results with the most skilled personnel. In fact, the Echelon 4.5F full-size was so well received the HPD also procured the compact 4.0C for use by the SWAT team, K9 unit and select detectives.

“We are extremely proud to provide the Echelon 4.5F and 4.0C for use by the officers of the Henderson Police Department,” said Fred Mincks, Springfield Armory’s Law Enforcement Sales Manager. “The Echelon’s advanced design and modular features make it perfectly suited for their demanding requirements — with the results showing in their qualification scores. The Echelon is the perfect partner for these officers on their mission to ensure the safety of their community.”

For more information on the Echelon 9mm, please visit https://spr-ar.com/r/5608.

About Springfield Armory®

In 1794, the original Springfield Armory began manufacturing muskets for the defense of our young, free Republic. The Armory functioned as a firearms supplier for every major American conflict until 1968 when the government sadly closed its doors. In 1974, nearly two centuries after its inception, Springfield Armory Inc. in Geneseo, Ill. revived the iconic heritage of the Armory to carry on its legacy.

We strive to honor this responsibility as guardians of the original Springfield Armory legacy by manufacturing the highest quality firearms to enable responsible citizens to preserve their right to keep and bear arms in the defense of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

With an unmatched emphasis on craftsmanship, performance and exceptional customer service, our mission is to forge superior firearms and provide the tools necessary to defend individual freedoms and equality for those who embrace the rights and principles secured by our Founding Fathers. For more information, please visit us at: springfield-armory.com.