INDIANA — The Indiana State Police (ISP) will soon undergo its first major sidearm transition in years, moving to a modern platform designed to better integrate with officer safety technology.
Department officials announced that troopers will begin carrying the Sig Sauer P320 later this spring. The move comes as the department’s current Sig Sauer model has been discontinued by the manufacturer, making maintenance and parts replacement increasingly difficult.
The transition carries a total price tag of approximately $1.17 million, a figure that covers not only the new handguns but also specialized holsters and necessary training. ISP leadership emphasized that the decision was not made lightly.
“We didn’t just go to the local gun shop and pick one up on the shelf,” said ISP Sgt. John Perrine. “They tested a significant amount of guns.”
Superintendent Anthony Scott detailed a strict vetting process that involved the agency’s most elite units. “Without making the final purchase, we ordered a batch of those and gave them to our special operations groups, our SWAT team, and our firearm instructors,” Scott said. “We put thousands of rounds through these new weapons.”
One of the most critical factors in selecting the P320 was its compatibility with the ISP’s existing digital evidence systems. Modern police holsters can be equipped with sensors that automatically trigger a trooper’s body-worn camera the moment the weapon is drawn.
“Our holsters activate our body cameras, so we have to make sure that the new holster systems work with our body camera technology,” Perrine explained. “All of that testing has already happened.”
This “signal” technology ensures that critical footage is captured during high-stress encounters without the officer needing to manually press a button while facing a threat.
The Sig Sauer P320 is already a familiar sight in the professional world, serving as the official sidearm of all branches of the U.S. Military (where it is designated as the M17 and M18). Often marketed as one of the world’s most innovative pistols, its modular design allows for significant customization to fit different hand sizes and tactical needs.
The rollout to ISP troopers is expected to conclude by early summer, following a comprehensive training period to ensure all members of the force are proficient with the new equipment.
