“The Los Angeles Police Department is one of the largest and most elite law enforcement agencies in the country, with roughly 10,000 uniformed officers, and we are proud that they have chosen the FN 509 MRD-LE as their next duty pistol,” said Mark Cherpes, President and CEO of FN America, LLC. “The FN 509 MRD-LE is the only choice for agencies seeking an extremely capable and versatile duty pistol platform with proven reliability, accuracy and optic interoperability. Serving the men and women of an outstanding law enforcement agency like the LAPD brings great pride to everyone at FN, we look forward to supporting their police force with a remarkable handgun platform their officers will rely on every day.”
During the LAPD handgun trials, FN competed against several contenders in a 20,000-round-count endurance qualification, which it surpassed with zero malfunctions. “Exceeding all of the requirements LAPD sought in their new duty pistol was a high-performance standard to meet,” said Chris Cole, Vice President, Sales and Marketing at FN America, LLC. “With over a million rounds fired in development, the FN 509’s reputation for durability is proven here again giving LAPD officers a superior handgun they can depend on in the most demanding policing environments.”
Superior accuracy of the FN 509 MRD-LE starts with the patented FN Low-Profile Optics-Mounting System™. Adapted from the original development for the U.S. Army’s handgun trials, it gives officers more precision and sighting versatility than all other handguns.
“LAPD needed the ability to quickly and securely mount a variety of duty-rated micro red dots to their service pistols to improve the accuracy potential of their handguns and their officers,” said Charles “Bucky” Mills, Sr. Director of Law Enforcement Sales for FN America, LLC. “FN pioneered the MRD mounting technology the LAPD required, enabling precision shot placement and immediate target engagement no matter the environment.”
Accuracy is further enhanced by the high-performance trigger assembly and cold-hammer forged barrel. The combination of accuracy, speed, longevity and versatility gives the FN 509 MRD-LE the edge that today’s officers need.
FN’s New FN 509 MRD-LE
The FN 509 MRD-LE delivers more precision and versatility than any other duty-rated handgun. Building on the proven FN 509 lineup, the exclusive upgrades for law enforcement place every advantage in an officer’s hands. The FN 509 MRD-LE is the only choice for agencies who require complete reliability.
Pinpoint accuracy is made possible for all officers with a precision, hammer-forged barrel with recessed target crown, high-performance, conical striker and flat-faced, duty-rated trigger. With a positive wall at 90° before a clean break, officers maintain their sights on target through the full trigger pull. The FN Low-Profile Optics-Mounting System™ with co-witness tritium 3-dot iron sights, delivers rapid sight acquisition and consistent shot placement, vital when every shot must be accounted for.
To inquire about the FN 509 MRD-LE, LAPD’s newest duty-issue sidearm, for agency or individual office purchase, please contact the FN Law Enforcement Sales team at LE@fnamerica.com. More information about the FN 509 MRD-LE or FN’s other law enforcement products can be found at www.fnamerica.com.
FN’s got a good reputation on their firearms that are big enough to require steel rivets. However, there was a story a while back on TTAG where the reviewer showed the frame / magwell of the (FDE) FN polymer pistols got soft (readily [drastically] distortable?) when the temp [ambient / temp of the pistol???] reached ~140 degrees, while a co-reviewed Sig polymer pistol did not? I’m not even certain if it was a fair test or comparison, but after seeing the distorted magwell in the hand of the reviewer I was not a fan.
I’m not a fan of FN pistols, but by all accounts that was a bad batch of plastic.
While that pistol had that problem, the internet tried to recreate the problem with other FNPs and I never heard about that being duplicated.
Seems like the 509 is a solid gun, jabber this seems to be the first major issuing of the 509. This could make it a relevant competitor to the Glock and P320, or it could be short lived and one off.
Seriously that was like 15 years ago, two service pistol programs ago for a small batch of the entire product line.
My 509 sits in a backack which sometimes stays in a car, and the ambient in the car, which has black paint, can easily hit 160 degrees. There has been no distortion that I can see in the polymer, and the firearm still functions without issue (other than the sub-par mag release)
Does this mean that the entire / most of the LAPD will be using RDS equipped pistols?
Having RDS as standard issue across such a large force would seem a big (and welcome) development – a sign that the RDS pistol has truly gone mainstream.
Four manufacturers submitted pistols that met the quality standards. FN won because they offered the pistols to LA for $150 each…
Source?
I was personally present when a major firearm manufacturer offered us pistols for the entire department at zero cost. We are a large department, though not quite LAPD large. We did not accept.
For people who are unfamiliar with how firearm purchases go for GOV contracts, it can be dirty pool. LAPD has the resources to purchase new firearms as needed. Saving some cash when the department has the money already set aside in budget isn’t going to be much of an issue.
I’m well aware of the murky world of procurement, I was just curious as to whether the offerers and figure quoted are gen.
It is not a secret that agencies rarely choose the item/equipment/firearm that is actually the best . The final decision is made by an administrator/bean counter. I’m not saying that is the case here, but I’ve been involved in more than a couple dept purchases, where it came down to $$$ over actual quality. Look at how S&W undercut Glock with the M&P, and took many accounts from Glock. (I AM ABSOLUTELY NOT A GLOCK FANBOY). How did that turn out.
All that said, I am intrigued by the FN 509, and the reported test out come.
LAPD sets a lot of trends in police equipment…
Indeed they do, I wonder if D Platoon will be switching…
I’d be surprised if they do, they like their STIs and Springfield Operators too much. Oh and word is it was $300 bucks a pop. The brass in the building (Financial Operations Division) had the final call dispite the evaluators liking a couple other pistols they tested better. Time will tell.