Duty Belt Suspenders

[Argyle]

Recently on an episode of "Cops" I saw officers wearing suspenders with their duty belts. I believe the department was Pierce County, Washington.

Can anyone who wears these tell me what benefit they may have, especially for an officer's back?

Also, where could I get some?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[John from Maryland]

Our department is evaluating them. They're brand new and I'm not in the test group, so I'll reserve judgement. They are manufactured by Michael's of Oregon (Uncle Mike's). Be safe.

[skippy]

The Ottawa Carleton Regional Police Servise in Canada use them and they have been hailed as an excellent method of reducing back pain. They redistribute the weight from the hips to the shoulders.

[ARMORER]

They also provide a "Handle" for Officer extractions and Yes they do balance the load out

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Come on over to Liberty County http://pub12.ezboard.com/bdocsplace

[Don]

I believe there could be a couple of down sides to this.

First, there is a nerve running through the top of the shoulder that over time can become very sensitive. It seems to me that the weight placed on the shoulders could cause serious problems with this. As an example, I can't wear regular suspenders without it killing both of my shoulders.

Second, I don't like giving the bad guy anything ELSE he can grab hold of on me. In fact, I didn't even like the lapel mike because of the cord that could conceivably be used to strangle an officer. While I will admit that I have never heard of this happening, it sure seems to me like it could.

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Don't tell me I look good for my age. That is like saying "Hey, you are pretty smart for someone so stupid!" 6P1 (retired)

[Don]

Oh yes, there was one more thing that I forgot in the above post.

Do REAL cops wear suspenders? http://www.officer.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

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Don't tell me I look good for my age. That is like saying "Hey, you are pretty smart for someone so stupid!" 6P1 (retired)

[John from Maryland]

The suspenders attach to the belt with breakaway snaps. I haven't experimented with them and don't know how effective they are.

[Rimfire]

Heres the Link...
http://www.sidekick-pro.com/m_law_p.asp?grpky=44

[720]

Definantly looks unprofessional...but to each their own.

[John from Maryland]

My chief asked me about them a couple of times before we started the trial program. I really don't care for their looks, but I think the only alternative will eventually be tactical vests.

When I started out in 1980, I carried a S&W revolver, two speedloaders, one set of handcuffs, a portable radio, Mace, and a baton. When walking a footbeat or out of the cruiser, I had a two cell rubber flashlight. Today I carry a SIG 226, two spare magazines, two sets of handcuffs, an expandable baton, a Surefire 8X, OC spray, and a glove carrier. When out of the cruiser, I've usually got a Maglite. I'm also wearing body armor which I didn't have in my first months on the job. Everything is mandated except the vest, the flashlight, and the second set of cuffs.

We can debate exactly what we want or need to carry forever, but I think we all realize that cops today are required--by policy or good sense--to carry more weight that we were in 1980. At some point, we're going to have to rethink the duty belt.

The sergeant running the suspender evaluation is an old-school cop. It took two extended disabilities for back injury to convince him the suspenders might be a good idea.

On a lighter note (and make Don feel better about his age),that revolver I carried, loe these many years ago,had a five inch barrel. Other than the Frederick (MD) Police Department, the only agency Iknow that carried a five-inch Smith was the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Can you youngsters imagine what a pain it was to find an off-duty holster for a five-inch barrel weapon?

Be safe.

[Sgt. DG644]

I would agree that they look unprofessional and I know several State Police agencies that call the leather strap that goes across their uniform a "suicide" strap. I wonder why??? No thanks I also do not want to give anyone something else to grab a hold off.

[Don]

Originally posted by John from Maryland:

On a lighter note (and make Don feel better about his age),that revolver I carried, loe these many years ago,had a five inch barrel. Other than the Frederick (MD) Police Department, the only agency Iknow that carried a five-inch Smith was the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Can you youngsters imagine what a pain it was to find an off-duty holster for a five-inch barrel weapon?
Be safe.

John,

My first one was a six inch model 19. Talk about concealed carry? My question is why would you even try to carry this off duty. I carried a two inch .38 off duty back in those days. (Course they were not REAL effective against the dinosaurs!) http://www.officer.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

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Don't tell me I look good for my age. That is like saying "Hey, you are pretty smart for someone so stupid!" 6P1 (retired)

[Argyle]

Thanks to everyone for the input. You have given me ideas that I didn't think about.

[Niteshift]

YesArgyle, that was Pierce County SO that you saw. That area is the only place I've ever seen them in use (I worked in Pierce Co. in 87-89).

"I carried a two inch .38 off duty back in those days."

Don, please tell me you weren't one of those guys that stuck a bunch of rubber bands around the grip and shoved it in the back of your pants too. http://www.officer.com/ubb/biggrin.gif


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Niteshift-
Perseverate In Pugna

[Don]

Nite,

Nah, I always used an inside waist band holster. I bought the pos er I mean the .38 and the wife (the one that was current at that time http://www.officer.com/ubb/biggrin.gif) bought me the holster. I think she may have worried about. . . uh never mind. http://www.officer.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

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Don't tell me I look good for my age. That is like saying "Hey, you are pretty smart for someone so stupid!" 6P1 (retired)

[BrianWA]

Hey, I work for Pierce County here in Tacoma, Washington! : )

Anyway, after a month of wearing the suspenders, I am trashing them. About two weeks into wearing them, I started to get a bad stiff neck.

I went the the Chiropractor (sp?) and he straightend me out. But, silly me, I kept wearing them. My neck is killing me again, and now I finally realized why. The weight on my shoulders! I might have had them too tight, but I think I am not going to wear them for a while and see how I feel.

I disagree with an early post as them looking unprofessional, I think they look pretty nice.

I suggest you try them out, and don't strap them down too tight....by the way Pierce County is THE place to work : )

[This message has been edited by BrianWA (edited 02-01-2001).]

[Guard Dog]

YUCK!!!! They look terrible.

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"What we have here is failure to communicate" ..Strother Martin (the Captain in "Cool Hand Luke" 1967)

[John from Maryland]

A two inch .38 snubnose? I though Joe Friday worked LAPD!

I've owned a couple, but never carried one. I've almost always carried my service weapon off-duty. Fortunately, I only had the five-inch Smith for a few weeks. In fairness to Don, the .38 snubnose is a highly respectable back-up gun. If I were required to carry a revolver (Awwk! Choke! Urp!) as an off-duty weapon, the three inch barrel revolvers are somewhat more concealable and you don't lose the muzzle velocity that a two-inch does.

Be safe. Hey, BrianWA, thanks for the BTDT perspective on suspenders. I'll pass that on to the test group. Pierce County does appear to be the place to work.