The Importance of Securing Police Equipment

This essay is written in accordance with the corrective measures given by the issued red chit. In this essay, I will discuss a few of the many important points of why a police officer should make sure his/her equipment is secure. The main point, and perhaps the most important point I can make as well, would have to be; officer safety. Making sure one’s equipment is secure, should be the most important part of officer safety. Whether that means your equipment is secure around your waist, in a locker, or in a weapons vault, as long as the equipment is secure, it cannot fall into the wrong hands.

If one was to leave a duty belt on a bus, unsecured, it can be accessed by anyone, including people who may want to use the items on that belt to harm others. Now, not only is the officer’s safety at risk, it is safe to argue that the officer has put innocent people’s safety at risk as well.

Making sure that one is wearing their duty belt properly, with all the keepers, and making sure all snaps are secured before walking out of the detachment on duty, or off a bus, not only makes it safer for the officer to perform his/her duties, but the safety of the public is satisfied as well.

The public wants to have trust and faith in the police services of their communities, and their abilities to keep them safe and secure from harm. Not securing equipment, would dissolve that trust, and show the public that some officers are inept, or neglectful in their duties, thus giving way to the public losing faith in our responsibilities and roles as public defenders. It is important to remember that all police services are painted with the same brush.

When one community starts to lose faith in their police service, other communities will soon start asking if their police service is similar, and that doubt is extremely harmful. Another important point as to why a making sure a police officer’s equipment is secure would be; that the officer knows the exact position and working condition of the equipment. The officer must test, or perform an inspection of all equipment prior to heading out on duty. Making sure the equipment is secure, allows the officer the peace of mind, knowing that their equipment asn’t tampered with, or made unsafe by carelessness or neglect.

Ensuring the can of Oleoresin Capsicum spray is not dented and fully functional, means that when the time is needed to use the intermediate weapon, the officer can rest assured that it is securely in his duty belt, and that it will function as per specifications. The officer, knowing his side arm is fastened in the Safariland Holster, with all the snaps secured, makes the officer feel more comfortable when entering public establishments, or events, where there is a crowd present.

It is not unheard of for people to attempt to take an officer’s side arm. If the side arm is secure, it is much more difficult to disarm the officer. In conclusion, I have but barely scratched the surface of many of the reasons an officer should secure their equipment. I hope this essay is just a starting point to get future officers thinking; that the security of their equipment, is a responsibility not to be taken lightly.