All that gear!

[universible]

In the interest of minimizing thread drift (on the baton poll), I thought I'd start a new thread on all the gear people carry.

I don't actually like carrying a lot of crap on me. I usually have a wallet, keys, and some sort of folding knife on my person....oh yeah, and cellphone. If you are working as a plain clothes officer, or SA position...how do you manage carry all the gear you are supposed to carry?

I'm guessing you get use to it. Also, departments and agencies have different policies on what you are required to carry, and what you are allowed to carry.

How annoying is carry a gun, wallet, creds, cuffs, ASP, OC...errr..what else, cellphone...? Do you have to take the crap off you when you get in the car?

I know I'm really stretching the thread ideas here, and lord help me...I'm getting antsy waiting for my call...so please forgive the "newbie"ish questions.

I am interested in hearing your replies.

Ted

[FedRich]

As an agent, what I carry has been pared down quite a bit. Instead of a whole duty belt worth of gear, I now carry cuffs, extra mag, folding knife, nextel, pager, creds, and wallet. The advantage of being plainclothes is that I can wear all of this in different locations depending on what I am wearing.

Since I'm in Florida, I find wearing an ankle holster and ankle cuff/mag pouch is less conspicuous than wearing a vest or untucked shirt. If I am doing something in a semi-uniformed capacity, such as boardings, I have a duty belt in the g-ride that I wear.

It really depends on what you will be doing. I knew alot of DUSMs that carried everything, during "hits". They would stuff a baton in their back jean pockets and use duty belt pouches on a regular belt for OC or mags.

The thing most people run into is "OG" or over-geared. You should've seen some of my teammates on a Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment when we got tac vests. Those guys had everything you would never need.

If you really want to find out what you don't need, get in a foot chase and see what falls off. :)

[LE_Hopeful]

As another S/A, I carry about the same stuff as FedRich. I carry tuff-ties in my pocket instead of real cuffs (they are in the car and in my bag). I also carry a flashlight on my person (have used that a lot).

I bought a thick, leather belt designed to look like a dress belt but to also carry gear. I make sure I dress in a manner so everything is covered without looking too unnatural.

[LeeRoy]

When I worked investigations I usually carried just my P220, cuffs and a spare mag in a combo holder, a badge, a cell phone, and a small Motorola Visar portable radio. If I go back some day I'll probably add a little flashlight to the package too.

I kept a Safariland raid vest carrier in my UC car that had extra ammo, a flashlight, OC, and baton on it. I figured the stuff on my belt was pretty much just for self defense/last resort. When I on viewed stuff in plain clothes I tried to call in a marked unit to make the stop. That way when/if they ran they couldn't say they didn't believe I was a cop.

If I rolled to a call to help uniformed officers I'd pull on the vest which marked me as a cop, gave me some protection, and gave me tools I'd need. Oakland PD had an incident a few years ago where one of their plain clothes officers was shot by uniformed officers after they came across him pointing a gun at a crook. They ordered him to drop it and shot him (the detective died unfortunately) when he didn't.

I like FedRich's comment about being OG'd :) . When I'm in uniform that's probably me but my set up works for me and nothing falls off when I run. I worry that when I'm on a call away from the patrol car if the excrement hits the rotary oscillator I probably won't be able to get there and retreive it.

I understand the need for Secret Service guys and DUSM's have to carry impact weapons and such when doing their duties (protection and moving prisoners). I suspect most SA's when they are out doing day to day investigative stuff don't need to run around with ASP's, OC, extra cuffs, etc on their person.

[FedRich]

LeeRoy,

When I was uniformed, I carried just about everything you could imagine on my duty belt. We joked that I would have to gain weight in order to have extra space. I hear you about being away from the cruiser and needing something. We had several park areas in DC that you had to walk some distance from the parking lot.

Something I think uniformed guys should carry is some type of multi-tool. I can't count how many times I used my leatherman to remove tags, etc, etc. The other thing I would highly recommend for uniform guys is an extra pair of cuffs. I carried one set right up front on a strap. They come in handy until one of your squadmates double locks them.

I carried a surefire on me in the courtrooms as a DUSM and have two in my G-ride. I'll have to put a request in for one of the executive series, since that will fit in a pocket or in my ankle carrier. You never know when you might need a flashlight.

[universible]

Not knowing what I'll be doing, or what is expected...I know that if I am carrying a gun, I'll have to carry credentials...and cuffs. I'll probably carry a light with me too...so dang, that's a lot of stuff to conceal on your person.

By the way, FedRich, if you are looking at getting an E2 series Surefire...a couple things to think about...Surefire recently changed their dealer policy, that will greatly affect online sales (basically, get stuff online, if you can/while you can). Also, they are coming out with some new cool goodies in the next month or so (after SHOT show)...AND the new L4 seriously kicks but over the E2e, IMHO. Its a whiter, fuller light.

Ted

[TCB]

I suspect most SA's when they are out doing day to day investigative stuff don't need to run around with ASP's, OC, extra cuffs, etc on their person.

Thats me, I just carry the bare minimum while doing day to day stuff. Just a badge and gun concealed under whatever I am wearing. Going on a warrant is a whole other animal, you carry all the stuff you need, you are not trying to blend into society at that point.