Must haves for soon to be graduate

[waldo5252]

I will be graduating October 10th and was wondering what are somethings that I should try to get now to help out in the "real world." I was looking through Galls and saw a ton of stuff I would like to have but realize that I will probably never use half of it. So other than basic issued stuff what would you recommend. I already have OC, ASP baton, I set of cuffs and 2 long cuff keys, streamlight xl-20 big flashlight and streamlight tl-2 led small flashlight. I am looking for ideas that I will need on my person as well as my cruiser (we have take home cars if it matters). Thanks in advance for any ideas!

-chris

[Chit2001]

Have a patrol (war) bag yet? 3-ring binders? Fun stuff like that. I'm at that point where I'm buying my own "extra" stuff. Everything else has been issued.

How about gloves? (Hatch makes good ones, but I haven't been working long enough to wear anything out yet).

[MMeeusen]

Wait til you start

Don't buy anything now because once you start most things will be issued to you and your stuff will be on here in the for sale section.

[Smurfette_76]

-Hand sanitizer
-Small first aid kit for the glove box (band-aid, neosporin)
-Gloves (kevlar)
-Seat organizer if you're going to have the car to yourself
-Shirt stays or belt for your uniform
-Small recorder (just in case)
-I went to a local hotel and got one of the maps of the city they give out to tourists. Then I had it laminated and put it above the passenger side visor
-Metal citation holder

[Chit2001]

-Hand sanitizer
-Small first aid kit for the glove box (band-aid, neosporin)
-Gloves (kevlar)
-Seat organizer if you're going to have the car to yourself
-Shirt stays or belt for your uniform
-Small recorder (just in case)
-I went to a local hotel and got one of the maps of the city they give out to tourists. Then I had it laminated and put it above the passenger side visor
-Metal citation holder

How 'bout some Vick's VapoRub, Smurfette?

[Smurfette_76]

Good Lord, yes.



I have a binder thingy (yes, the technical term) with every single form my agency uses in there. Everything from crime scene logs to property sheets to business surveys. You just never know.

[Monkeybomb]

One of the handiest things is either a small tool kit or a gerber tool/ leatherman. Nice to have for taking off license plates etc. I use my gerber tool all the time for a bunch of different things.

[BigTrooper]

Seat belt cutter that you can get to in a hurry. I also invested in those cheap walkie-talkies and gave one to my partner because our radios were not outstanding. You can also talk freely on them or relay information to be given to dispatch.

[L223]

Get one of those aluminum clip boards that open up for reports and forms. i would also recomend getting a smaller one for tickets. Your number one priority should be a second flash light that you can wear on your belt. As flashlights go, one is none and two is one, they always die at the WORST possible time.

[11Bto5-0]

More handcuffs, including oversized cuffs...at LEAST two more pairs.

BIG one for me - back up gun (depending on your agency's policy).

[10-31Mike]

Other than extra cuffs, I wouldn't get anything for a year or two.

Take your extra money and put it in to a retirement account, savings account, under your bed... somewhere. Don't spend it on crap for work you may never need.

Or join the IBPO, PBA, or something else that will help you out when you get sued for doing you job.

[NORCOCOP]

extra cuffs

BUG

multi tool

micro cassette/digital recorder

metal clip board/expandable file for forms

gloves for searches

However a lot of departments give you this stuff, for find out before purchasing it. It never hurts to have extra cuffs, knives, and guns though.

[JSODEP5338]

The only thing I would recommend is to go to office depot or someplace similar and purchase a small accordian type folder. When you get hired grab 4 or 5 of every form your department has. Lord knows it will be O'dark thirty 15 miles away from your department and you need a vehicle impound form. That only happens to you a couple of times before you get wise.

[Monkeybomb]

I carry a full size flashlight on every traffic stop and every contact at night. It's not because i'm scared of the dark. At my agency its and authorized impact weapon. It just happens to be a flashlight.

Plus the full size is easier to hold/control under your armpit on a traffic stop.

[SoCalSheriff]

A decent digital camera has saved me alot of time....