Henderson PD Chooses Springfield Echelon 4.5F and 4.0C as New Duty Pistols

After extensive testing and evaluation, the Henderson Police Department has officially adopted the Springfield Armory Echelon 4.5F and the compact Echelon 4.0C pistols, both chambered in 9mm, as its next duty handguns for officers. 

The Springfield Armory Echelon was selected for its modular frame system, fully ambidextrous controls, generous magazine capacity, and  optics-ready slide. The Echelon’s modular grip design allows the department to accommodate a wide range of hand sizes through interchangeable backstraps, improving fit and shooter confidence across the force. Ambidextrous controls further reduce the training curve, allowing seamless operation for both left- and right-handed officers.

The compact Echelon 4.0C offers a balance of reduced size while maintaining controllability, aiding in recoil management and potentially aiding in faster follow-up shots when time is paramount. Combined with the platform’s reliability and ergonomic design, the Echelon family delivers adaptability and performance at scale with these key factors that leading the Henderson Police Department to its adoption following rigorous evaluation.

Below is the official press release from Springfield Armory announcing the Henderson Police Department’s adoption of the Echelon 4.5F and compact 4.0C pistols.

Press Release

GENESEO, ILL. (12/19/25) – Springfield Armory® is proud to announce that, as the result of intensive and rigorous testing, the Henderson Police Department (HPD) of Henderson, Nevada, has adopted the full-size Echelon 4.5F and compact 4.0C 9mm pistols for use by its officers.

Recognizing that previously adopted pistols employed by the department did not provide an ideal fit for the wide variety of its officers’ hand sizes, the HPD instituted a comprehensive review of its weapons platforms that revealed numerous deficiencies. It was decided to identify a new platform that adhered to the following design requirements: striker-fired, modular design (adaptable to different hand sizes), fully ambidextrous controls, increased magazine capacity, factory-installed night sights, and an optics-ready slide.

Over the course of several months, the Springfield Armory Echelon 9mm (along with numerous competitive designs) was rigorously tested under a wide range of conditions and with a broad selection of loadings. In addition to these internal evaluations, multiple open-range sessions were hosted to allow all HPD officers to test the review pistols and fill out an objective 14-category rating form. The result? All pistols tested ran flawlessly, and the HPD officers overwhelmingly selected the Springfield Armory Echelon as their preferred platform.

According to Lieutenant Craig Mancuso of the HPD’s In-Service Training Division, “The Echelon met every one of our design goals. It provided a modular, striker-fired, ambidextrous and optics-ready system with extended 20-round magazines. We also procured a selection of large and small grip modules to ensure every officer achieved an ideal fit.”

As was the case during the initial testing phase, the Echelon proved to be an exceptional choice and very popular with the officers during the adoption process. For the first time in the HPD’s history — across both the Police and Corrections Divisions — every officer successfully passed handgun qualification on the first attempt.

In its review of the qualification testing, the HPD determined the Echelon’s customizable ergonomics and modular design significantly improved performance among the less-proficient shooters while also maintaining top-tier results with the most skilled personnel. In fact, the Echelon 4.5F full-size was so well received the HPD also procured the compact 4.0C for use by the SWAT team, K9 unit and select detectives.

“We are extremely proud to provide the Echelon 4.5F and 4.0C for use by the officers of the Henderson Police Department,” said Fred Mincks, Springfield Armory’s Law Enforcement Sales Manager. “The Echelon’s advanced design and modular features make it perfectly suited for their demanding requirements — with the results showing in their qualification scores. The Echelon is the perfect partner for these officers on their mission to ensure the safety of their community.”

For more information on the Echelon 9mm, please visit https://spr-ar.com/r/5608.