Editor note: In 2020, Sig Sauer proudly sponsored the Law Enforcement Today "Refund The Police" campaign. Before agreeing to the partnership, our team did extensive research into the accusations against Sig and studied everything from bodycam footage to court testimony. We even produced an unpaid video documenting what we believed were the false claims. Years later, many members of our team - includling law enforcement - proudly still carry the P320 as our EDC of choice.
SEATTLE, WA - The SIG Sauer P320, one of the most carried sidearms by the U.S. military and police forces all over the country, has been permanently banned from use at facilities managed by The Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission (WSCJTC). The commission cited highly disputed reports that the firearm can magically "discharge" when not triggered.
As reported by King 5, Monica Alexander, WSCJTC executive director, told reporters “My position has to be safety because we know so much now that if I make a different decision, I don’t feel like I’m being responsible.” The use of the firearm at WSCJTC facilities was halted in October pending the results of a task force investigation into claims that the P320 was the cause of an “uncommanded discharge” by a recruit at a Spokane firing range.
No one was injured in this incident, but the firearm’s "accidental discharge" record, which reportedly has led to 80 injuries as of April 2023 according to The Washington Post with police officers numbering among the injured, is quite high. The Post reported at least 33 officers at 18 separate law enforcement agencies were injured in accidental P320 discharges dating to 2016. Sig disputes that it has anything to do with the gun itself and that there's zero evidence of this. As a matter of fact, they say, many of the cases were proven to have been cases of officers mishandling their firearms and then trying to avoid getting in trouble.
https://youtube.com/shorts/QhlLrUdT2Zk?si=jnEmAD56GeYTWKtd
Former Virginia deputy Marcie Vadnais, who claimes their career ended with an accidental discharge from a P320 in 2018, told King5, “It’s literally like setting a ticking time bomb wherever it’s sitting waiting for it to go off.” Vadnais suffered a severe thigh injury and needed multiple surgeries. It's still widely believed that this may have been the result of the officer's negligence in properly handling a firearm.
SIG Sauer denied the P320 is capable of firing without a trigger pull in a letter to WaPo writing in part, “These reports, among others, support three conclusions. (1) unintentional discharges are not uncommon amongst both law enforcement and civilians, (2) improper or unsafe handling is one of the most common causes of unintentional discharges, and (3) unintentional discharges occur with several types of firearms and are not unique to the P320.”
The company added, “Despite years of litigation and extensive discovery, no one, including plaintiffs’ ‘experts’, have ever been able to replicate a P320 discharging without a trigger pull,” and goes on to state that the P320 does conform to all applicable U.S. standards for safety. “The SIG Sauer P320 model pistol is among the most tested, proven, and successful handguns in small arms history.”
According to reporting from King5, WSCJTC estimates that approximately 10% of Washington officers carry SIG P320s, with documentation revealing that they are standard issue for the Bellevue Police Department, Burlington Police Department, and Kitsap County Sheriff’s Office. These jurisdictions could incur significant expenses to rearm, retrain, and resupply their personnel. Kevin McCarty, a spokesman for the Kitsap County Sheriff’s Office, told the outlet that they are already investigating a new handgun to transition to.
SEATTLE, WA - The SIG Sauer P320, one of the most carried sidearms by the U.S. military and police forces all over the country, has been permanently banned from use at facilities managed by The Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission (WSCJTC). The commission cited highly disputed reports that the firearm can magically "discharge" when not triggered.
As reported by King 5, Monica Alexander, WSCJTC executive director, told reporters “My position has to be safety because we know so much now that if I make a different decision, I don’t feel like I’m being responsible.” The use of the firearm at WSCJTC facilities was halted in October pending the results of a task force investigation into claims that the P320 was the cause of an “uncommanded discharge” by a recruit at a Spokane firing range.
No one was injured in this incident, but the firearm’s "accidental discharge" record, which reportedly has led to 80 injuries as of April 2023 according to The Washington Post with police officers numbering among the injured, is quite high. The Post reported at least 33 officers at 18 separate law enforcement agencies were injured in accidental P320 discharges dating to 2016. Sig disputes that it has anything to do with the gun itself and that there's zero evidence of this. As a matter of fact, they say, many of the cases were proven to have been cases of officers mishandling their firearms and then trying to avoid getting in trouble.
https://youtube.com/shorts/QhlLrUdT2Zk?si=jnEmAD56GeYTWKtd
Former Virginia deputy Marcie Vadnais, who claimes their career ended with an accidental discharge from a P320 in 2018, told King5, “It’s literally like setting a ticking time bomb wherever it’s sitting waiting for it to go off.” Vadnais suffered a severe thigh injury and needed multiple surgeries. It's still widely believed that this may have been the result of the officer's negligence in properly handling a firearm.
Washington State Police Departments using the Sig Sauer P320 may want to rethink it, ASAP.
— Future 42 (@future42org) February 16, 2025
As King 5 Investigators reports, this particular gun is one wrong movement away from killing an Officer.@CJIngalls at @K5Investigators pic.twitter.com/mYLhhgl8z3
SIG Sauer denied the P320 is capable of firing without a trigger pull in a letter to WaPo writing in part, “These reports, among others, support three conclusions. (1) unintentional discharges are not uncommon amongst both law enforcement and civilians, (2) improper or unsafe handling is one of the most common causes of unintentional discharges, and (3) unintentional discharges occur with several types of firearms and are not unique to the P320.”
The company added, “Despite years of litigation and extensive discovery, no one, including plaintiffs’ ‘experts’, have ever been able to replicate a P320 discharging without a trigger pull,” and goes on to state that the P320 does conform to all applicable U.S. standards for safety. “The SIG Sauer P320 model pistol is among the most tested, proven, and successful handguns in small arms history.”
According to reporting from King5, WSCJTC estimates that approximately 10% of Washington officers carry SIG P320s, with documentation revealing that they are standard issue for the Bellevue Police Department, Burlington Police Department, and Kitsap County Sheriff’s Office. These jurisdictions could incur significant expenses to rearm, retrain, and resupply their personnel. Kevin McCarty, a spokesman for the Kitsap County Sheriff’s Office, told the outlet that they are already investigating a new handgun to transition to.
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The opinions reflected in this article are not necessarily the opinions of LET
Comments
2025-03-01T10:56-0500 | Comment by: Marcie
This story is 100% false and misleading to your law enforcement communities. Proof is in the video evidence not sig’s false claims of officer misconduct.
2025-03-01T20:32-0500 | Comment by: Richard
There are so many documented instances of this weapon firing when dropped that I am astounded that LET would publish such nonsense. One has to wonder if Sig Sauer’s contributions (as noted in the article) don’t have some influence on the position taken by LET. Even if I carried a 9mm popgun it certainly wouldn’t be a 320.
2025-03-01T20:52-0500 | Comment by: Kevin
I own 8 320s including variants, carry one as a service weapon and never had a single ND, nor has the department. Some of those firearms are as old as 7 years. ND's have always been a part of gun ownership and usage since their existence. Same reason agencies require them to come with internal safeties to reduce this. Most departments won't allow a service weapon to be used if It doesn't. With some exceptions of personal(off duty) weapons and/or special units.
2025-03-01T21:00-0500 | Comment by: James
Wow, pigs magically go off without being triggered too .... STUPID pigs mishandle and disrespect firearms ALL the time ..... MOST of them shouldn't even have one ......