subject: The Various Types Of Police Equipment Used To Serve And Protect Citizens [print this page] All police officers carry at least one form of weapon. In most countries, police officers are equipped with firearms, with the primary type being a handgun. However, there are a few countries where officers in the normal course of their duties do not carry firearms. Other types of police equipment that fall within the weapons category include batons, pepper spray, rubber bullets, and electroshock weapons such as taser guns. Using a firearm and/or deadly force by a police officer in the course of his duties is to be done as the last resort and only when such force is required to save a person's life, whether it be the police officer's life or that of another. Police officers are equipped with several pairs of handcuffs to be used to restrain criminal suspects such that additional force is not required.
Another type of police equipment that is heavily used by police officers falls under the category of communications. Specifically, the police use radio equipment quite extensively, which is used as a communication device on one's person, in police vehicles and at police stations. Radio equipment is used to coordinate work, share information, issue alerts, and to call for immediate backup assistance. More recently, police cars have had computers installed in them, which has further enhanced police communications. These computers have made the dispatch of calls much easier, enabled background checks to be performed on site immediately upon stopping or seeing a person of interest, allowed instant updating of an officer's activity log of his day's events as well as preparation of various reports as events take place when they are most fresh in one's mind. Police are also outfitted with flashlights, whistles, police notebooks, and citation books.
Perhaps one of the most common pieces of police equipment is the police vehicle. There are the standard marked "black and white" patrol car, which is outfitted with conspicuous police logos, light bars, sirens, as well as certain equipment kept inside the vehicle. There are also unmarked police vehicles that are typically used for undercover operations, ensuring that the police personnel go undetected. Then there are police motorcycles for patrolling the roadways. Additionally, there are specialty police vehicles, including helicopters, vans and trucks, all-terrain vehicles, SWAT armored cars, airplanes, watercraft, and even bicycles for certain patrols.
Finally, there is police equipment to be used as defensive devises. Bulletproof vests or jackets are for the specific purpose of protecting a police officer's person from injury due to gunfire, knife stabbing, hand grenades, or shrapnel coming from explosives. This gear is worn on the body above the waist. There are two types of bulletproof vests: one with a relatively softer texture and another that has been reinforced with ceramic or metal, and thus, is stronger. Police also have helmets when necessary, such as when engaging in riot control, hostage rescue, or if checking potentially explosive devices. Police also are equipped with gas masks, which protect them from respiratory harm that may occur due to any type of atmospheric pollution.
The police equipment listed herein is just some of the many different types of gear out there that may be used by police in any number of situations while carrying out their duties. They all serve a specific purpose and have saved many lives when utilized by police officers. Fortunately, police officers are not required to carry all of their equipment on their persons at all times. Otherwise, they would be weighed down too heavily and would never be able to catch a criminal.
