ACCESSORIES: Plainclothes Duty Gear
If you really want to spend once and then be done, there are some custom holster makers who will meet and exceed the needs of the plainclothes police offi cer. I have holsters from Rgrizzle Leather, Milt Sparks and Mitch Rosen that will likely be passed down several generations.
Belt
One aspect of carrying that is often neglected is the belt. Here we have the foundation of our entire system of on-body emer- gency equipment carry, but some of us feel that $15 is a solid investment when, in reality, $100 is more appropriate. T e most important aspect of a consistent draw stroke is the gun being in the same place every time it is acquisitioned. T at won’t happen with a cheap dress belt from a clothing store. T e gun will slide around and sag during normal body move- ment throughout the day. Not having to cinch up your belt a few dozen times per shift may, in and of itself, be worth the investment.
A decent belt is more expensive, but it will eliminate these issues and outlast a dozen cheaper models during its service life. I’ve been carrying a gun or two for about 18 years and I’m only on my second Galco belt. T e fi rst one I purchased fi nally started showing enough wear that I retired it from plainclothes duty after a decade and a half of use. T e Beltman is also a great source for gun belts. It’s another small company; this one is out of North Carolina and does not get the credit it deserves.
Magazine Carrier
Anyone who carries a gun should consider carrying a spare mag- azine or two. One never knows how much ammunition will be needed for a given event. Even if a cop carries a 20-round 9mm, a magazine related malfunction is still a legitimate concern. De- tectives sometimes carry an extra magazine in a coat pocket or in the car, but that’s not really ideal. When we train on the square range to retrieve a magazine from our belt or from our pocket, that’s what we’ll attempt to do when the need arises in the real world. Consistency is your friend, so train for reality.
Handcuff Case
Detectives or any other cop who is likely to make an arrest on duty should always have at least one pair of handcuff s on their person. It seems a lot of plainclothes offi cers think their spot- light handle is a cuff case. I’ve been guilty of it myself. T ere are always real cops with handcuff s around when I arrive at a scene. On those rare occasions when I pretend to do actual po- lice work, I always have at least one pair of cuff s on my person.
Flashlight
Not all suits work “banker’s hours.” Larger departments have night shift detectives and patrol shift commanders who work in plainclothes. I recently spent two years on such an assign- ment and always had a SureFire Fury on my belt. Hours of the day notwithstanding, cops often fi nd themselves in low/no light environments during building searches. So, the immedi-
9 The Police Marksman May-Jun 2014
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ate availability of a lighting tool is good practice. Fans of SureFire prod- ucts know that the company also manufactures quality leather products intended for plainclothes carry of their products. Many of the previously mentioned leather makers can also provide a quality belt carrier for your light of choice.
Combinations
A common scenario is a “gun” call that comes out and offi cers arrive from all divisions. Are they prepared for a magazine malfunction, a low-light situation, or an unarmed combative subject? T is is not to say detectives or administrators should wear their Sam Browns complete with Taser, OC and all the usual duty belt equipment. But, more than just a pistol is almost always appropriate to increase the odds in your favor a little. T e equipment a plainclothes cop decides to carry is largely dependent upon his/her actual duty assignment. Combination carriers are available for handcuff s/light, magazine/cuff s, or any combination one feels is ap- propriate for their assignment.
My most recent assignment was as a night shift commander. My emer- gency battery consisted of suit, tie, pistol, two extra mags, SureFire Fury light, and a raid vest ready on the front passenger seat with more equip- ment along the same lines.
I am currently assigned as the Administrator for my department’s 911/ Communications/Records section. I have fi nally achieved my tactical dream assignment! In all seriousness, the hours are daytime with holidays and weekends off and that means I’m working when the high school just a few blocks away from the police department is in session. Will my plain- clothes duty gear change for my current assignment? Not really. My plan is still to carry a pistol and two extra magazines. T e front seat of my assigned car will contain my raid vest with fl ashlight, cuff s, radio, extra AR-15 magazines and a map of the school.
I pray that it gathers dust except on training days, but it’s ready if needed. PM
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