A lot of people still think that being a tactical cop is all about having lots of guns and being able to fight your way out of a sticky situation. While there's some truth to that, being a tactical cop also means having the proper gear to do your job effectively. In this article, we'll tell you about some of the gear and tactical gear and equipment that you need to make sure you have before you start any official police activities.
Body Armor:
Even if you're not planning on going in for the actual fight, being unarmored is a sure way to get hurt or killed. That's why you need to always wear body armor when you're on the job. You also need to make sure that you're wearing the right gear for the job you've been given. For instance, if you're working a desk job, you might not need to worry about wearing heavy arm protection; however, if you're going in for a patrol on bikes, you might want to consider getting some heavy duty arm protection. There are a variety of vests available, and you need to make sure that you're choosing the one that's right for the job. In most cases, police body armor is going to be better than civilian body armor in terms of protection, and you don't want to take any chances when it comes to your safety. In addition to body armor, you need to consider getting some safety shoes. They might not protect you from getting hurt, but they can help prevent some of the more common injuries that cops face on the job. These are especially useful if you do end up in a fight, and being unarmored can make it much more dangerous for you. There are a variety of different makes and models to choose from, so you don't want to be limited to just one type. A good rule of thumb is to get the ones that have thick soles and heavy duty construction.
Communication Equipment:
Keeping in touch with other officers and communicating with the public are two of the most important jobs that a police officer can have. More often than not, someone will be carrying a phone with them wherever they go, and being always available to take calls is crucial to your effectiveness as a combat cop.
In case you do get disconnected from communication during an active shift, you need to make sure that you have some back-up. This is why you need to always carry a radio with you. While a walkie-talkie is also quite useful, it can be quite disturbing to hear people talking around you even if you can't make out what they're saying. It's also important to have a radio that's up-to-date with the latest models. Some of them have built-in GPS so that you can locate exactly where you are at any given moment. This can be extremely useful if you're lost or need help finding your way somewhere unfamiliar.
First Aid / Emergency Kit:
Besides being unarmored and unprotected, another big mistake that cops often make is not having the necessary tools to deal with injuries they might face on the job. Staying alive is always more important than appearing cool and collected in front of the public, and in many instances, being unaroused for too long can lead to death. This is why you need to make sure that you have everything you need to deal with minor injuries. For instance, you might want to keep a pair of scissors in your car for pronto cutting of clothing if you need to make repairs during a traffic stop. You might also want to keep some adhesive bandages on hand in case you need to patch up a minor cut or bruise that wouldn't go down with a few stitches. These are all things that you should think about having in case you get injured on the job. It might not be easy to get all of those things in a single place, but the effort will be worth it in case you do need them.
Arms / Handwear:
To hit another person is one of the most devastating things a police officer can do. Besides the emotional toll that it takes, hitting another human being with a closed fist is also extremely dangerous. This is especially true if the other person is armed, and you end up with a police officer who is also injured or angry enough to shoot you. You don't want to take any chances with your safety when it comes to getting your hands on a weapon.
The problem is that most police officers are not built for punching and kicking like they're used to doing. For most people, the natural reaction is to try and grab the attacking officer and hold them back, but you can't always rely on your fellow policemen to keep their cool. Instead of trying to hold them back, you need to make sure that you're using your arms effectively. There are various tactics and techniques that you can use to disarm or subdue an armed attacker, and you need to make sure that you've trained for these instances. For example, instead of trying to grab the weapon and hold it away from the person or put it down on the floor, spin the gun around so that it points towards the sky and hold it there until the attacker relaxes.
The key thing to bear in mind here is that no matter what, you need to always keep your hands free from any kind of clothing. If you wear a jacket, make sure that it's not tight enough to potentially cause damage when you punch a person. It should also be noted that being the enforcer of the law doesn't mean that you're above the rules of engagement. Never hit a person with your hands unless it's in self-defense or to prevent them from attacking you.
Back-Up / Emergency Plan:
Being available to your fellow officers is one of the most important aspects of being a good police officer. If there are situations that you know are beyond your immediate ability to handle, you need to make sure that you've trained for those instances and have a plan in place. In most cases, these will involve calling in for support or having a backup arrive by car. In the event of a major crime wave, the city might also decide to hire more officers to help patrol the streets. When this happens, you also need to make sure that you're not the one who gets left behind. Make sure that you're not the one who spends more time answering calls than they do dealing with actual criminals and accidents on the street. It might not be the most glamorous part of the job, but it's still one that needs to be done.
Accessories:
Depending on the situation that you're facing, you might also need to consider getting other accessories. For example, if you're in plain clothes and have your gun drawn, you might want to get a hat to keep the sun off of your head. If you've been shot at, you might want to get a mask to help keep the dust off your nose.
In most situations, a walkie-talkie will suffice for most law enforcement needs. It's not the most sophisticated piece of equipment, but it gets the job done.
Being a good police officer takes a variety of different skills and gear. From body armor and handwear to first aid / emergency equipment and a walkie-talkie, there's a variety of items that you need to make sure you have with you before you get started. These are all things that you need to keep in mind if you want to be able to do your job effectively. Without these items, being a cop might not be as glamorous as you think it is, but it can still be an incredibly dangerous job. Make sure that you're not only prepared for the physical part of the job but that you have the mental capacity to stay calm and collected under any circumstances. Thinking clearly and acting decisively is what separates a good cop from a bad one, and you don't want to risk being judged by your fellow officers or the public solely on the basis of your appearance. It's more important to be able to do your job well than to look good doing it. Keep all of this in mind if you want to be a successful cop.