QLD Police Equipment

[nate1]

Hello all

Does anyone know whether the Glocks used by the Queensland Police service are station issue or personal? If personal, what are the guidelines for carrying off duty? Carrying off duty is a larger issue in the US than it is in Australia.

Also, Body armor? Is it optional in Queensland, or other Aussie states?

Thanks

[co911]

Nate, QPS issue the Glock 22, .40 cal. I'm not sure if they are personal or station issue, probably station issue given the cost to individually equip such a huge dept. In NSW Glocks are personally issued. In Victoria, where they still carry revolvers, they are station issue.

There are no guidelines for carrying firearms offduty in any Australian state. Police officers there are not permitted to carry offduty, unless they have been classified as having a serious threat against them which is very rare.

As for body armor the only two Aussie police forces which issue BA to troops are the NSWP and the Victorian Police. In Western Australia, believe it or not, it is illegal for a WA cops to own body armor. Many officers in NSW have purchased their own BA as the issue ones are so hot and uncomfortable. There is no dept in Oz which mandates that soft body armor must be worn.

[nate1]

Thanks c0911

I am actually a Uni student in Queensland, but am interested in the force. That has actually helped me in an assignment. While im here, do you enjoy the force? Even though you are in the US. Different to Australia, but essentially LE is LE. Thanks for your reply.

[Sleuth]

co911, any idea why it's illegal for officers to own body armor? Afraid the officers might have an advantage over the crooks?

[co911]

Hey Nate!, I do enjoy being a cop, it is the only thing I ever want to do. I can't agree that LE is LE, (even though this opinion ****es off the Aussies). I've seen the major differences, being a cop here is night and day compared to Australia. Aussie cops are so busy with non-police jobs, paperwork and anti-corruption crap they don't have the time (equipment, staff or resources) to do much law enforcement work. Please don't take my replies or information as gospel if you are using it for a college assignment, it could be out of date, and you should probably check with the ockers.

Sleuth I imagine an act of paliament banning the possession of SBA was passed and no exemption was included for cops.

[nate1]

co911

I see what u mean. Yes Aussie cops are not exposed to the level, nor the amount of crime and law enforcement activity that most cops over your way are. Paperwork is huge here, any cop will complain about that. Now dont get me wrong - cause lets face it, the only police work I have seen in the US is from TV - but I get the feeling that american LEOs take on more of the role of crime fighter, and Aussie's - disregarding certain districts and departments - take on more of a community service role. I dont mean that you guys dont serve the community to your fullest ability, however each role entails different things.

What are your thoughts on this?

ps i have only ever wanted to be a cop, and hope that i find i am as happy as you are when i finally get in.

[NSWCop]

Puhleese......

If I could interrupt this love-fest for a moment.......:p

nate, try this website for info on Queensland Police:
(though I would hope that as a uni student you would have done some form of research and already know about it??)


Queensland Cops (http://www.police.qld.gov.au)


If you want to ask any further policing type questions, check out this site. You may be able to register as a student and go on-line:

Thin Blue Line (http://www.policensw.com.au)

I am sure that, with proper research, you will find the answers you are looking for!!

:D

[nate1]

lol lovefest

Hi nswcop. I first discovered the qld police site in grade 8. I have milked it for all it is worth.

The thin blue line, I had been to, however didnt realise there was a register option. Didnt actually realise there was a forum. So thankyou very much.

One thing I have learned is that when you are not yet a police officer, talking to anyone and everyone who is an officer is a wise thing to do. I may learn that i can not carry on these 'lovefests' when i get into the force and see who my real friends and enemies are lol. Until then, knowledge is power, and the only stupid question is the one you dont ask.

Therefore, I have guessed by your name that you are one happy police officer. While different people enjoy different things, is it a job you would recommend?

[NSWCop]

nate...
Would I recommend the Job? Tough question. I still do it. I occasionally still enjoy it. But I've been doing it for a long time. I joined when the idea of a career was the vogue, not just a job as is the feeling now.
So, I suppose if you are keen, go for it. But get an education first, a Uni degree or a trade behind you.
Above all, when it isn't fun anymore, get the hell out!!
;)

[zacman]

Nate

Im a Qld police officer and can tell you that all our firearms (glock models 22, 23 and 27's) are all personal issue. They do, however, have to stay at the station locked in a weapons safe in accordance with the regulations and legislation...all except specialist units like dog squad who are required to take them home with us.

Nate, do yourself a favour and join the service...I did 10 years ago after finishing a banking degree and now have the best job in the land working with a fury, 4 legged partner....I wouldnt change a thing!

As for body armour, our overt vests are all station issue and signed out at the beginnning of the shift to each officer. Once again, dog squad cops get personal issue...Covert vests (worn under shirts) are personal choice but an application to wear one has to be made t the service outlining why u want to wear it. It can also be expenisve to buy, but is tax deductable.

Nate, good luck...hope you choose the right path :D

[nate1]

Zacman....

Thanks for that, my question has been answered. Just one thing..i can understand if a detective was able to take their glock home, but why are specialist units required to take them home with you? While the question was related to occupational health and safety, this oen is just curiosity.

Unfortunately or fortunately, I have wanted to be a police officer since I was five. Not that I read gun magazines and follow police cars around, but I have always been attracted to the job. I didnt have to go through the 'holy-hell-what-am-i-going-to-do-after-school' stage that most went through. I am making sure I get this degree behind me, so in the situation that I do get in, and its not for me, I have something to fall back on. I hope that does not happen though.

Initially I planned to get out of uni and do something else for a year or two - u know the whole life experience thing, but a police officer I know told me to apply half way through next year, so when i finish uni, i dont have to wait much longer (providing the application is successful).

My query is, that I would be quite happy to go in straight away, but with so many people applying, generally all applicants who are five years out of uni, or worked full time for ten years, or been in the army or whatever would be successful over me. I know it is unlikely for me to get in at 21 years of age, and ideally dont want to be rejected, but there is always another chance.

Thanks for the reply

Nate

[ron9572]

Yes it is true, in Western Australia, under the Police Act it is illegal for anyone to own body armour. I think this one dates from the 1950's. It is not illegal to own whilst on duty as a serving member of the police, however it is illegal to own it off duty (figure that one out:)

As for stab vests,it is legal to own and wear them, however the department frowns upon the practice. The reasoning I was given is that if two officers attended a situation, one wearing a vest and one not wearing one, and the one without got stabbed, then it gives them more grounds to sue the department for not issuing the vest, whereas if nobody has the vests and they get stabbed, it reduces the chances of the department getting sued.

However, this might all be changing, the new commissioner is looking at modernising our uniform, and I think one of the new items will be body armour.

As for pistols, over here they are station issue (my unit is lucky enough to have them as personal issue) this will change though and all pistols will eventually become personal issue.

[Sleuth]

ron, I love that logic:

"No vests allowed, because it is more importatnt we protect the department from lawsuits than save officers from getting KILLED!"

Looks like all the morons are not in the U.S.

Be careful out there.

[zacman]

Nate,

Im glad that anything i may have said has been useful to you.
The reason that some specialist units are required to have their weapons at home is because on occassions we are required to attend crime scenes from home and therefore it is easier to have our weapons with us at home (all be it in a safe in accordance with the law) I am, however, interested in why you think it would be a normal thing for a detective to take his/hers home??!

As for when to apply for the job, Im of the opinion that you should go for it in your last semester at Uni. The application proccess is long and involved. Also, do NOT be discouraged if you dont get in on the first try...it is a very competetive job so keep at it! Show them that you have the ticker to give it a go until you get in! I got in at 22 years of age, so there is hope for you! Dont think that just because you are 21, that they will overlook you.

Good luck mate, and I hope you give it a good shot! If you want to know anything, just ask and I'll try help you out.

Zacman

[ron9572]

Well Sleuth, the thinking is better a dead cop than spending more of the government's money.

Sad I know, but as I have said it looks like things are changing. I read the new commissioner today is looking at personal issue stab vests.

[Sleuth]

Many years ago - about 20 now, I calculated the cost to a department of a line of duty death. Not the emotional costs, but the out-of-pocket costs. You may want to try it, to convince the department that body armor is cost effective.
I included: death benifit to the family, cost of investigation, prosicution, incarceration, funeral expenses, overtime for officers. Also, don't overlook the costs to the department of health care for the family, as well as the costs of various memorials and travel to memorial services. Then I added the costs of finding, hireing, training, and equiping the replacement officer.
When I was all done, it costs well over $1 million US! So, if vests save 1 officer, they have paid for themselves.

You might just try this as an exercise in cost accounting - and then see that it falls into the 'right' hands!

Good luck.

[nate1]

Zacman....

I dont know about the detective thing. Too much tv i guess. I suppose i just thought that if a detective was in bed and was required to investigate a murder at 3 in the morning then they wont want to swing past the station and get their firearm. But maybe that only happens in the movies? lol

Second thing.... The keyboard certificate, first aid course and bronze medallion, the site says as long as all of these things are going to be completed by the date of acceptance, then its ok. But what about open licence? I get mine in october next year. If I apply in august is that ok?

Thanks for the replies.

[zacman]

Nate

Im not too sure about the 'Open' licence thing, because i thought they'd slackened the restrictions to include 'provisional' licences as well. Then again, I may have been misinformed. Considering the situation though, i think that you would be okay since it would only be a matter of 2 months before you got your opens, but probably longer before you actually marched in to the Academy.

As for the detective thing...well...yeah...too much TV there bloke! In a situation where D's are called in for a crime scene or investigation outside normal work hours, they usually have to go to the office anyway to pick up vehicle, partners and equipment anyway..Im not saying it doesnt happen, BUT, the norm is that all firearms are to be secured in the station prior to terminating shift. (Except for specialist units who have exemptions)

Anyways, hope that helped...keep the faith!

Zacman

I never saw a wild thing sorry for itself, a small bird will drop frozen dead from a bough, without ever having felt sorry for itself

[nate1]

so you enjoy dog squad?

It sounds like great fun.

...faith kept