In Washington state, a growing number of police departments are quietly removing a once-popular service weapon from their arsenals: the Sig Sauer P320. The move follows mounting accusations that the firearm can discharge without a trigger pull – a claim that has led to lawsuits, training bans, and now, a troubling resale pipeline that could put these weapons into the hands of unsuspecting civilians.
As reported by KING 5 Seattle investigative journalist Chris Ingalls, agencies like the Burlington Police Department and the Kitsap County Sheriff’s Office are offloading their P320s not to disposal programs, but to firearms dealers in exchange for credit toward newer guns. That cost-saving strategy, critics say, might be placing public safety at risk.
What’s Wrong With the Sig Sauer P320?
The controversy surrounding the P320 stems from multiple documented cases, some with video and physical evidence, alleging that the gun discharged while holstered, without anyone pulling the trigger. Although Sig Sauer, the manufacturer, denies the weapon can fire unintentionally, several incidents across the U.S. have cast doubt on the company’s claim.
A notable example cited by Ingalls involved retired Pennsylvania transit officer Craig Jacklyn. In 2018, Jacklyn was exiting a patrol vehicle when his holstered P320 reportedly fired on its own. The bullet narrowly missed a passerby, and Jacklyn was cleared of any wrongdoing. His department swiftly abandoned the P320, switching to Glock handguns instead. “It’s shameful that those weapons are going to be in the homes of civilians, knowing that the gun could go off at any time,” Jacklyn told KING 5.
Police Training Academy Bans the Weapon
In February, the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission banned the P320 from its training facilities, citing safety concerns. For departments that rely on the academy for training new officers, this decision made continued use of the firearm unsustainable.
Burlington Police Chief Kevin Turner explained in a written statement that the ban had restricted access to essential training, leaving the department with no choice but to transition to a different firearm. Other departments, including Marysville and Anacortes, are also moving away from the P320, citing the ban and ongoing safety concerns.
Selling to Dealers – And Then What?
The concern isn’t just that law enforcement is moving away from the P320 – it’s where these discarded firearms may end up.
According to KING 5’s review of public records, the Burlington Police Department is receiving approximately $12,000 in trade-in credit for their 33 P320s from a federally licensed firearms dealer named ProForce. That discount brought the total purchase of new Smith & Wesson handguns down by $13,000 compared to competitors who did not accept a trade.
During a city council meeting on March 27, Burlington Mayor Bill Aslett acknowledged the risks, saying, “If someone should buy one of these and there’s a misfire, if we sell them out to individuals, we assume that risk. By [trading them] with a federally registered firearms dealer, they take the risk of buying them.”
What happens after that – whether those dealers resell the firearms to civilians, other departments, or simply destroy them – remains a gray area.
Officers Report Accidental Discharges
One particularly disturbing case from Burlington dates back to 2018, when Sgt. Adrian Kuschnereit reported that his P320 fired “completely on its own” while he was reaching into his locker. The blast tore through his holster and pants pocket. Fortunately, he was not injured. Photographs and an internal investigation supported his claim of an unintentional discharge.
Sig Sauer, in its review of the incident, suggested that a foreign object, possibly a piece of gear or uniform, had somehow entered the holster and pressed the trigger. But the company could not identify what that object was. Attorney Jeff Bagnell, who has represented multiple clients in lawsuits against Sig Sauer, called the company’s conclusions “a misdirection,” noting, “They say this all the time. Every time this happens, they say something got in the holster.”
Major Lawsuits and Mixed Court Results
Although Sig Sauer insists the P320 is safe, describing it as “the gold-standard for safety” in press releases, the legal record is mixed. The company has highlighted 13 lawsuits that were dismissed by courts. However, that list excludes two recent verdicts that went against Sig: a $11 million award to a Philadelphia victim and $2.3 million to a Georgia man, both of whom claimed their P320s fired unintentionally.
Despite such outcomes, Sig maintains that the gun cannot discharge without a trigger pull and often points to user negligence or worn equipment as the cause in each case.
Other Departments Divided
Not all departments are abandoning the firearm. The Bellevue and Kirkland police departments continue to stand by the P320 and have voiced objections to the state training academy’s ban. While these agencies haven’t publicly confirmed plans to replace their sidearms, they maintain the gun is reliable in their experience.
Meanwhile, Marysville Police Chief Erick Scairpon told KING 5 that his department had experienced no issues with the P320 and called it a “safe platform.” Anacortes Police Chief Dave Floyd echoed the sentiment, saying his department had only recently transitioned to the P320 and had been “happy with Sig Sauer.”
Kitsap County’s $108,000 Gamble
Perhaps the largest resale deal reported so far involves the Kitsap County Sheriff’s Office. The department is trading in over 200 P320s to help fund the purchase of Shadow Systems handguns, saving taxpayers an estimated $108,000.
While Sheriff John Gese’s office described the trade as a “logical and fiscally responsible thing to do,” the decision sparked concern among county commissioners. Commissioner Oran Root openly questioned the ethics of the move during a public meeting, stating, “My conscience is killing me here. What’s $100,000 for somebody’s life?”
Public Safety vs. Fiscal Responsibility
The central dilemma is stark: Should public agencies risk recirculating potentially defective firearms in order to save money? Legally, trading to a licensed dealer relieves departments of liability, but morally and ethically, critics argue that the consequences could be deadly.
According to Ingalls’ reporting, many of the departments acknowledge the risk but proceed anyway, citing budget constraints and procurement rules. “We do not know if the firearms dealer will resell these weapons and whether they may go to the public or other law enforcement agencies,” a Kitsap Sheriff’s Office spokesperson told KING 5.
Gun Trainers Draw a Line
Even outside law enforcement, concern about the P320 is growing. One firearms trainer in Knoxville, Tennessee, was filmed halting a live fire course after a student’s P320 discharged during a ceasefire. He banned the weapon from all future classes at his facility, stating, “These guns will not be tolerated.”
His stance echoes a growing sentiment among firearms professionals who believe the risk, whether rare or not, is too high for continued use, especially in public hands.
Pressing Questions Raised
The unfolding story of the P320 raises pressing questions about how law enforcement balances safety, liability, and cost. While agencies must manage tight budgets, their duty to protect the public doesn’t end at the point of sale.
As journalist Chris Ingalls and KING 5 have uncovered, dozens, if not hundreds, of these controversial handguns may soon be back on the civilian market, recycled from agencies that deemed them too risky to carry. And as long as liability is shifted to dealers and risk remains publicly unknown, the true cost of these trade-ins may not be measured in dollars, but in lives.
Ed spent his childhood in the backwoods of Maine, where harsh winters taught him the value of survival skills. With a background in bushcraft and off-grid living, Ed has honed his expertise in fire-making, hunting, and wild foraging. He writes from personal experience, sharing practical tips and hands-on techniques to thrive in any outdoor environment. Whether it’s primitive camping or full-scale survival, Ed’s advice is grounded in real-life challenges.
