My son is graduating the Police Academy in May and being sworn in the following Monday what would be a good present?

Thanks

I gave my son a Glock 43 for his off duty gun . He would have had to buy something anyway .

Congratulations to your son

This is a hard question because every dept is different regarding uniforms, equipment etc..

I always appreciated flashlights (nice bail out light for the pocket or a nice tactical light)

An off duty weapon is a nice purchase but yet again it depends on the dept rules/regs.

I always give a nice clipboard and ink pen.

It sounds crazy but I always liked having a nice ink pen set to write reports, investigate traffic accidents and issue traffic warnings. (I wrote very few citations).

I went to one graduation, and a newly sworn in Officer got a nice set of handcuffs and a Firefighter application from a buddy. Everyone got a great laugh out of it.

As stated it depends on the dept regulations/GOs. Flashlights/Knives are always good but I usually use cheaper items vs nicer brands in case they are damaged or lost. That said, a backup/off duty gun would my vote.

ETA -

1) An updated/longer handcuff key vs the standard one.

2) If not provided, a second wallet just for a badge/credentials.

Whenever I had new rookies for training. I told them not to spend money on a spare gun, as they might find after a year they don’t like policing, plus guns are expensive and rookies were usually broke after the academy.

I told them to buy three things:

-A small flashlight to wear on your belt-even though I always carried my big flashlight, you can drop it in a chase.

-An extra set of cuffs and case, you might get more than one guy to arrest, or he might be huge and you link them together

-We had a “blue book” in NC(SC too) that had the most common charges, available at law enforcement supply store.dunno if they have that where he’s gonna be policing, but asking a Sgt might clear it up. It was super handy to break down the elements of each charge.

After someone grabbed my gun I began carrying a push knife, so I’d recommend a kamarabit or a push knife. (Cold steel safemakerII)

A good back-up gun. Again, find out what he can carry per department regulations. Maybe a weapons mounted light.

Honestly, I use my Leatherman more than anything else. Can't go wrong with that as a gift. A good pocket knife as well.

A second pair of handcuffs! ALWAYS carry 2 pair.

And most importantly, tell him Congrats!

I carry a gerber multi-tool. Blunt tip needle nose in black. The most used tool on my belt by far. I carry it in a single stack spare mag pouch behind my duty gun.

A good pocket knife or a back-up gun would be excellent choices as well.

quote:

Originally posted by CPD SIG:
A good back-up gun. Again, find out what he can carry per department regulations. Maybe a weapons mounted light.

Honestly, I use my Leatherman more than anything else. Can't go wrong with that as a gift. A good pocket knife as well.

A second pair of handcuffs! ALWAYS carry 2 pair.

And most importantly, tell him Congrats!

I would second the Leatherman, the stoutest, lightest one they make. He will eventually pick his own guns and knives.

As others have said it depends a lot on department regulations and what equipment he is issued. Both vary a lot by department.

-a back up/off duty gun would be great. I'd probably take him and let him pick it out unless you know what he wants.

-a good small flashlight he can keep in a pocket or somewhere on his belt/uniform

-maybe a set of handcuffs with his badge number engraved on them so if he leaves them on a prisoner he hands off to someone else he can get them back

-as others have said a Leatherman cold be handy. I never used one much but it's handy to have when you do need it

A photograph with your son, Mom and yourself, along with the Mayor and Police Chief at the ceremony. Put it in a great looking frame and that gift will be cherished long after he is retired.

I cherish mine.

If there is a uniform store (physical or online) that stocks a variety of Police items that he likes, a gift certificate would be good. In that way, he can choose how to spend it once he has a better idea of what his needs will be as he sequences through the Academy.

His graduation from the Academy would be a better time to memorize a gift in my opinion.

I'll second the suggestion for a pocket flashlight, or a multitool.

Before you go getting something like handcuffs/knives engraved with his badge number, make sure his agency doesn't have shifting badge numbers. Some agencies assign badge numbers based on stuff like shift, or division, or assignment, or rank, and if you change any of those your badge number changes too.

In getting a gift for our kid’s academy graduation we went a different way. Our kid is a gifted photographer so we gave a camera lens. Police work is highly stressful and we felt that reminding our kid to have a positive outlet would be more valuable than any duty-related gift.

In our case this was the right decision.

Silent

Congratulations to your son, and we thank you all for his service.

I have been through this a few times. I graduated from both municipal and state academies. When I graduated in Indiana, back in the 70s, it didn't seem to be such a big deal as it is today. But it is a big deal and it should be.

Two of my sons have graduated from police academies. My youngest son graduated from the state and then made the move to the sheriff department.

When my first son graduated we got him a metal stand for his bedroom. It has his badge number on it and has a tray that holds all of his gear: shirt hangs on the back, a tray for his badge, buttons, his belt hanger etc, and a safe for his duty weapon. Everything is safe, organized and in one place. When my second son graduated, his wife wanted to buy the same thing for him so we opted for a gift certificate from the favorite service supply store where most of the officers from his department shop. He loved it.

An officer never seems to have enough gear; from knives, lights, mag pouches and cuffs, to go-bags or car storage solutions, the list is endless. The problem is, everyone has their own specific needs and tastes.

When my daughter got her MP assignment and when my son-in-law finished fire school, we went with the gift card idea. It was such a hit that now we do the same for all the birthdays of those in service.

Hope this helped.

btw its called the warrior rack https://www.warriorrack.com/pr...ree-custom-graphics/

A pair of Cross pens that match his uniform brass, plus a box of cheap ballpoints for handing to violators and loaning to other cops.

A flat badge and case for off duty use.

If the department doesn’t do it, a professional portrait in uniform

A prepaid appointment with a financial planner and retirement expert. It’s never taught in the Academy but hugely important.

A few ideas from the most to least expensive

-Off duty gun and holster, or a gift certificate for one if you don't know what he wants. Check to see what the dept allows
-Spyderco stainless police knife
-Surefire tactical lights and lots of 123 batteries
-Extra hinge cuffs
-Tactical pen
-Zak took handcuff key

Hmmm,NW Ind? Close to Gary?
I’d start off with a Bazooka & hand grenades.
He’d get respect pronto!

Lord, keep’em safe! Thank you.

If you're thinking about an off duty firearm, remember he may qualify for discounts after he is sworn in... If you go with the firearm, might make more sense to give him cash or reimburse once he's purchased.

Not sure if he has a good sense of humor, but if he does, maybe a gift card from here: https://winchells.com/



By the way, congrats. Watching one's kids achieve is one of the greatest joys in life.

Thanks for the input guys.