“Flip it over, now write down the serial number!” boomed the range master, who was also my lieutenant. I had just finished the last string of fire and met my “partner” for the next couple years, my department-issued Glock 22 Gen3, chambered in .40 S&W. In 2019, I was hired as a police officer with the county’s hospital police department. I was coming from the sheriff’s office, and I had to buy my previous service arm, a .40-cal. Smith & Wesson M&P. The Glock had a slightly different trigger than the M&P, but it was quite manageable, and I was able to score a 100 on my first qualification. This Glock would be in my holster every day during my 12-hour shifts.
Before working in law enforcement, I worked as an NRA pistol, rifle and shotgun instructor and had a pretty good understanding of teaching the fundamentals. During down time between calls, I was able to help coach fellow officers who were having trouble in qualification. The trigger “wall,” and how to press it, was the most difficult aspect to teach, but the simple fieldstrip was easy to demonstrate. One officer in particular was left-handed, like me, and I explained how our gear should mirror the right-handed officers and how a smooth draw stroke was of utmost importance.
I learned from Glock customer service that my pistol was produced in May 2014. This is interesting to note, because the Glock Gen4 had been released in 2010, and I wondered why my department had not chosen the newer model. Over time, I learned to appreciate the simplicity of the Glock Gen3. It does not have a milled slide to accommodate a red dot, no light, laser or interchangeable backstraps, but it works. I was able to achieve a perfect score on the next two qualifications. This pistol has become my favorite firearm and has helped me in fulfilling my department’s mission statement: “To provide a safe and secure environment for all individuals.”
—Howard Cabiao
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