Waterbury, CT, Police Department Adopts the FN 509 MRD-LE

The pistol was adopted after a 12,000 round torture test.

by
posted on November 7, 2024
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
 FN 509 MRD-LE

The Waterbury Police Department of Waterbury, CT, has selected FN America’s FN 509 MRD-LE 9 mm-chambered pistol as its new sidearm. The handguns have already been issued to the agency’s 300 officers.

“Waterbury Police Department approached us in search of a new duty pistol that was reliable, durable and offered them future-proof, optics-ready technology, and we answered that request with the FN 509 MRD-LE,” said Doug Grier, law enforcement business development director for FN America. “The FN 509 MRD-LE delivered against their need for a factory optics-ready solution that was instantly adoptable department wide and exceeded officers’ expectations with its ergonomics, modularity and ambidextrous controls.”

“During testing, our team fired in excess of 12,000 rounds through a single endurance test, along with several thousand more rounds fired over the course of adverse condition testing and in situation training scenarios, with zero issues to report,” said SGT James O’Brien of the Waterbury Police Department. “To say the least, the FN 509 MRD-LE is an extremely durable and reliable pistol that our officers can depend on. Since its adoption, we have seen a dramatic improvement on our officers’ test scores for accuracy, and we have received nothing but positive feedback on the pistol’s capabilities.”

Developed for the demands of duty use and the professional user, the FN 509 MRD-LE is FN’s premier law enforcement pistol. Fully vetted through rigorous endurance testing to function with 9 mm +P duty-style ammunition, the pistol delivers reliable, accurate and durable function throughout its service life.

The proven design features four passive safety systems, including a trigger safety incorporated into the flat-faced trigger. The contoured frame design delivers superior ergonomics and effective recoil management that accommodates nearly all hand sizes through the interchangeable backstraps.

News of Waterbury’s procurement of the pistol came only a few weeks after FN America announced the Wake County Sheriff’s Department selected the FN 509 Fullsize MRD-LE. That agency has issued 500 of the sidearms to officers, as well customized FN 509s for SWAT officers and FN 509 Compact MRD-LE for detectives and staff.

Latest

Nextorch WL25 weaponlight
Nextorch WL25 weaponlight

First Look: Nextorch WL25 Weaponlight

This powerful weaponlight offers 1,200 lumens for target-identification purposes.

Review: Benelli Nova 3 Tactical Shotgun

The new Nova 3 Tactical from Benelli combines innovation and affordability to create what might be the best defensive pump shotgun on the market.

First Look Steiner ATLAS Laser

Steiner released a powerful aiming device for a number of specialized applications.

First Look: GRITR Optics-Mounting Plates

GRITR now offers multiple optics-mounting-plate options for many popular handguns.

First Look: ZeroTech Vengeance 3-12x Scope New Reticle Options

ZeroTech's second-focal-plane scope now has three new reticle options.

Carry Permit Numbers Decline with Increase in Constitutional Carry

As is to be expected, as fewer states require a tax be paid to exercise your rights, fewer people are paying it.

Interests



Get the best of Shooting Illustrated delivered to your inbox.