The Wake County Sheriff’s Office, which patrols and protects an area that includes Raleigh, NC, has selected FN America’s FN 509 MRD-LE for its new duty pistol. The decision was made to purchase more than 500 of the sidearms for issue after subjecting it and models from multiple manufacturers to rigorous testing for a year.
It is the first agency to deploy the new FN 509 Fullsize MRD-LE, which is based on FN America’s FN 509 MRD-LE—adopted by the Los Angeles Police Department in 2021. With nearly 1,000 employees, the Wake County Sheriff’s Office serves the largest county in North Carolina, with more than 1.1 million residents across 12 municipalities.
“The Wake County Sheriff’s Office is the largest sheriff’s office in the state, and we are thrilled that they are switching to the FN 509 Fullsize MRD-LE as their duty pistol of choice,” said Doug Grier, law enforcement business development director for FN America. “As Wake County began their selection process over a year ago, they wanted a pistol that was safe, reliable, accurate and optics-ready, plus a brand partner they could trust to stand behind their products. FN met those needs with our commitment to service along with a duty pistol designed for law enforcement, by law enforcement.”
The FN 509 Fullsize MRD-LE, which launched earlier this year, is the law enforcement version of the commercially available FN 509 Fullsize MRD. While the bulk of the agency’s purchase is the FN 509 Fullsize MRD-LE customized with the Wake County Sheriff’s Office badge, they also selected the FN 509 Compact MRD-LE for their detectives and department staff, plus customized FN 509s for their SWAT officers.
“The decision to upgrade the Sheriff’s Office’s weapons was not taken lightly,” said Wake County Sheriff Willie Rowe. “We understand the importance of equipping our deputies with the best tools possible to ensure their safety and effectiveness in the field. The aging hammer-fired handguns were nearing the end of their life expectancy, and it was crucial to find a suitable replacement that would meet the Sheriff’s Office’s needs for years to come.”
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