I was happy with a good MDT and its system in the units. Also, E-tickets were out for a while when I retired, but they were cumbersome and awkward. If E-tickets were on an iPhone app, I'm sure it would be better for the officers in the field.

Ammo for training is a biggy. We've had to ration over the years due to budget cuts and other issues. I more than realize about the good citizens' tax money purchasing all of these toys for us, but I see ammo availability as a necessity.

quote:

Originally posted by heathtx:
SCOMDS?

What movie is that from?

tell em Elwood

The best tool every department should have is a basic, hands on training program on how to conduct behavioral analysis based interviews and interrogations. This program must start with trainee patrol officers (supervised by knowledgeable FTOs and sergeants) and a department mandate (policy) that the techniques/protocols be used. If officers can't collect credible information from those they talk with and prove it's veracity with corroborative evidence, what kind of work product will they provide?

Tools that cops need, but dont get:
1. Adequate training
2. Adequate Backup
3. Command officers who have their backs

Tools cops dont need, but cant get away from:
1. Forced Critical Race Theory training
2. Computer programs that try to predict crime, but never seem to work
3. Body cameras

quote:

decent entry tools

More of a firefighter's tool, but cops could make use of a Halligan bar. Or do they already?

quote:

Originally posted by egregore:

quote:

decent entry tools

More of a firefighter's tool, but cops could make use of a Halligan bar. Or do they already?

Making forced entry was a rare thing...usually I was dispatched to an older caller who could tell the dispatcher where a hidden key was.

(Drift)I was chasing a suspect on foot who was shoplifting at a local “haji-mart”, who led me to his grandmas house where I just smashed/shouldered into the door as he was attempting to close it..we wound up on the floor in the hallway where grandma beat me and him with a broom until I got him handcuffed...then she just beat him...

I asked the judge to make the guy replace the door as part of his punishment.(/drift)

tool I used the most was that wasn’t issued to me was a “master key” bolt cutters three foot...old properties fenced in etc...a short hall Ivan would have been nice but if I needed one I called for a rescue truck (2 firemen with a truck of tools)

Second was a pair of hinged handcuffs...

After that I had a can of upside down spray paint for wrecks...city was too cheap to buy it for us and a regular can would wind up all over you and your boots.

Then the last tool was a crowbar...mostly to pry open car doors in a wreck or smash a window during search warrants as a distraction

We have stop strips, water rescue kits, plastic electric light traffic thingies that replaced flares, and just recently rifle plates and helmets in all the cars.

A couple of the cars have Halligans and less lethal shotguns.

Recently all patrol guys got issued their own laptops. So something else to carry around in our war bags but, when the computer doesn’t work when you are checking out your cruiser after roll call it is on you. Of course the mounts and printers for e tickets, tows, accident forms are already in the cars.

We have one mobile AFIS. Sits in roll call most of the time. One or two of the troopers assigned to our area have them. Works great.... if the person has been fingerprinted in our state. Otherwise no good. Same with NCJIS. Great tool... if they have a record in our state. I live and work in a tri-state area so you can see the limitations.

We have a drone. It gets used once in a while. It has found people and works really well helping investigate after fatality accidents. A couple years ago we had a big grain bin explosion. Killed one and hurt others. Drone was used w/ the fire guys and other disaster/structural guys. Worked good getting into places to see around.

A few of our cruisers have thermal imagining units on the spotlights. Imagining pulls up on your laptop. Those work good. Put those cars in the perimeter in foot pursuits and watch the bad guys.

All this stuff is nice when it works but, most of the time one to three extra guys per shift would be much better.

quote:

Originally posted by jljones:
^^^^^^^^^^
Hahahahaha that was a fun thread of paranoia and misinformation.

My thoughts as well. What a ridiculous comment!

1. Adequate training
2. Adequate leadership
3. Leadership with adequate balls

quote:

Originally posted by enidpd804:
1. Adequate training

Oh they get plenty of training!

Sensitivity training. Cultural diversity training. Sexual harassment training. etc etc lol



.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: cas,

M1 Abrams

quote:

Originally posted by egregore:

quote:

decent entry tools

More of a firefighter's tool, but cops could make use of a Halligan bar. Or do they already?

I have one and an 10lb sledge in my squad. My Sgt. got them to buy them for all of us a few years back after some active shooter training. The county even got a breaching door training rig so we've all gotten a chance to work with it. I like the halligan a lot better than the sledge.

I've never used it to breach a door...most residential doors I've encountered will pop open with some judicious application of my size 13...but I can definitely see how it would be valuable in a more industrial setting or in a scenario where you absolutely had to breach on the first try.

I have used it on several occasions for other purposes. It helped get a seized rim off of a hub for a guy who had a flat tire one time, and it's perfect for lifting storm drain grates to rescue kittens or baby ducks. For what they cost, IMO it's a worthwhile thing to have handy.

Just curious anybody using a tomahawk as a entry tool? or a straight prybar?


James

quote:

Originally posted by depusm12:
Just curious anybody using a tomahawk as a entry tool? or a straight prybar?


James

I doubt a tomahawk would do any better than the halagan tool mentioned earlier. I keep a halagan and a ram in my car, plus a kit with bolt cutters and a 5 lb maul. That combination hasn’t failed me yet, though you’d be surprised how difficult some doors can be.

I keep a straight pry bar on my bag, but honestly you can’t do much better than the halagan.

quote:

Originally posted by ftttu:
A DA that isn’t a social justice warrior.

And magistrate judges who don't play it for pussy and votes.

I have nothing but respect for our law enforcement officers... but I don't think "more police" is the answer.... fixing society and reducing poverty and inequality is the ultimate answer.... I do think our police should have the best equipment available.

I will say that it is interesting that yesterday in our local paper was an article about the Car Tag readers and how people thought about them.... Even though I am a strong supporter of our privacy.... when you are out in public this is public.... any you should have NO expectation of privacy.

quote:

Originally posted by Blume9mm:
I have nothing but respect for our law enforcement officers... but I don't think "more police" is the answer.... fixing society and reducing poverty and inequality is the ultimate answer.... I do think our police should have the best equipment available.

I will say that it is interesting that yesterday in our local paper was an article about the Car Tag readers and how people thought about them.... Even though I am a strong supporter of our privacy.... when you are out in public this is public.... any you should have NO expectation of privacy.

My agency has less officers today than it did in 2008, and the population has nearly doubled. It’s absolutely impossible for us to keep up. There is no realistic community relations, except the forced token actions by a select few.

My first agency had about three times the ratio of officers. They had genuine community relationships like people imagine from “the good old days”.

More officers at my current agency would vastly improve a lot of things. Not to mention our violent crime rate is through the roof. I think we just passed 1990s homicide records. Officers are ran ragged with an impossible tempo that’s leading to quality of life issues and staffing shortages. Three from my division have gone out on PTSD retirements this year alone.

Yep. I'm all for "fixing society" (if that's even possible at this point). But until it's fixed, we need more LEOs just to keep our head above water.

quote:

Originally posted by Blume9mm:
I have nothing but respect for our law enforcement officers... but I don't think "more police" is the answer.... fixing society and reducing poverty and inequality is the ultimate answer.... I do think our police should have the best equipment available.

I will say that it is interesting that yesterday in our local paper was an article about the Car Tag readers and how people thought about them.... Even though I am a strong supporter of our privacy.... when you are out in public this is public.... any you should have NO expectation of privacy.

Suggesting that "more police" aren't needed when our communities' populations have been growing exponentially, ignores the fact that technology can't solve all problems. Police officers that are well selected, trained, and experienced are what's needed to respond to calls for service, not a sympathetic email. While non-sworn personnel can handle some types of calls, if crimes are to be promptly responded to and handled effectively, the need is for actual cops.

Your suggestion that "reducing poverty and inequities" is also of limited value. This nation provides opportunity to all for success, but no country has ever guaranteed either success or equity. They can't, since achievement depends so heavily on factors incompatible with freedom. The freedom to excel or fail are the rooted in individual initiative. Taking from those who excel removes such initiative. The only sure way to have 100% employment among those physically fit to work, is to enslave those who don't want to work.

thanks for taking the time to fill in the blanks

I thought for sure that I'd get stuff like , more k-9 cars and dogs, more vests for dogs,
tasers, continuing education courses,

but it seems as though more bodies in boots on the ground is the general consensus.

instead of $41,000 worth of hardware , for a dept. with 14 people per shift, would be much better off with three additional people per shift.

correct me if I am incorrect

Not just people, but trained people is what they need bendable.

I was an FTO for 15 years, from day one until he was off training was about 70 working days....
And then he’s gonna call you on he radio or phone for about another two months for every decision he makes...then it tapers off
They become autonomous around one year...give or take...and really can be left without adult supervision after two years-provided he is a go getter and didn’t just sign up for the government job.