Carrying two guns in the open in Buffalo?

[Buck Eight]

I have always wondered the answer to this question. When I watch old COPS episodes from Buffalo, many of the officers were carrying two guns in plain sight. Some of them had the guns in a shoulder holster and others appeared to wear the second gun crossdraw on their opposite hip.

What is the purpose of this? Tactically it seems foolish since one gun can be hard enough to protect in a take away attempt, much less two. Of course I can see carrying a back up gun concealed, but these were our in the open.

Does this practice still go on? Is it or was it unique to Buffalo, or do other NY agencies do this?

[NYCTNT]

How old is old?

Old enough to be before TASERS were invented?

It could have been a TASER?

[Buck Eight]

It was early 90's. In theory, I guess they could have been early generation tasers. But, if I remember right, the early tasers were very expensive and IF an agency had them, they were kept in the Supervisor's car.

On these episodes, most of the patrol guys had two "guns".

[Outshined]

Some Buffalo officers still carry more than one gun. I don't know if I agree with two open carry guns or not. Some officers have more than two guns. Some carry two in open, one on ankle, and some have the vest holsters. It is a rough place.

[Dave2886]

Are you telling me there are actually guys who carry 2 guns on their duty rig? I don't have a problem with a backup gun, but it seems like having 2 guns in plain view would be more of a liability than a benefit...allthough I guess it would make weapon retention technique kind of a moot point, when all you have to do if someone grabs your gun is draw your other gun and torch a round into their head. :)

[gbotj]

what the hell good is 3 guns. You only have 2 hands.


line from "fort apache the bronx"

[aikido kid]

Ok, first, I work in Buffalo so I know what I'm saying...

There is an officer who does carry, dead serious, 4 (four) Firearms on duty.

2 on his belt, 2 in shoulder holsters...

Those eppisodes of COPS were filmed in 1996 i do believe, and yes that officer who kicked in that door was carrying 2 firearms...

You just gotta work in Buffalo to understand... :D


"what the hell good is 3 guns. You only have 2 hands."

I was taught it's called a New York Reload...

[Outshined]

Thanks kid, always good to hear it from someone who knows. I asked a Buffalo officer once about his 3 guns, and he said, "The best reaction is overreaction"

I laughed at that one a bit.

[gbotj]

yeah but what happens when you carry a backup and it falls, the gun goes one way and the perp goes the other? you pick up the back up and the perp gets away. Not to mention when your wrestling with someone instead of one gun to worry about now you 3.

[mark7777]

? Why would they carry 2 guns on there belt just seems like asking for someone to grab at one of them.

It's a rough neighborhood? give me a break.

Hire more cops then.

[gbotj]

"Hire more cops then."

thats the problem. Alot of Departments would DEFINATELY benefit from this but its too much money. On average it costs $100,000 to investigate and train a Police Officer, and to add police officers and continue at the same number could cost millions. I know right now Nassau County Police Department is facing minimum manning problems, they are sending cops pct. to pct. and the officers dont know the area, not only is this an officer safety issue but also a big disadvantage to the public to have officers with a slow response time to find out how to get somewhere.

[mark7777]

Money is the problem But crime is not going to go away in these upstate or other places. As more JOBS leave the state The good folk will leave with them leaving behind well.... as one friend of mine in RPD calls them S#@T B#RDS.

If you raise taxes More people will hit the road NY is in quite the catch 22 which it will need to find a solution to and rather quick.

I thought buffalo and Erie county had discussed a merger of the sheriff and PD.
One method that NY state could use to put more cops on the street is start a reserve officer program like LAPD has. Not the auxillary like traffic cops these are people who would be held to the same standard and attend a full academy. They would not get paid not something I would DO but I quarantee MCC is filled with criminal justice 20 year olds that would do something like that. And so is ECC ect ect.
NOt a ideal solution the unions would hate it but it is a way to get more patrolmen on the street.

They really need to think outside the box
http://www.lapd.active.com/exec/lapd/reserve.cfm?publicationID=325
http://www.post.ca.gov/Training/Reserve_Peace_Officer_Program/

[aikido kid]

?
It's a rough neighborhood? give me a break.

Hire more cops then.

HAHA, that's a good one... HAHA.

Actually the city is hiring more cops. And boy they need um. It's been over 7 years since they last hired.

Hey, I'm not saying going out there like Rambo is a good thing! I'm just saying what I'm seeing. Haha.
I'm trying to get approved for frag grenades, wear them on my flack jacket, but I have to wait to qualify with them next summer ;)

"Driver let me see your hands! THROWING FRAG!!!"

[Sgt. Geezer]

I did know a lad that went from upstate down to NYC in the railroad police in the early ninties.

He carried three pistols all the time and spent many hours alone hiding in railroad cars waiting for someone to break in.

[SlowDownThere]

I'm in Buffalo a lot (I was there last weekend), and I've never thought of it as a particulally rough place.

In fact, the dining room of Salvatore's Italian Garden didn't seem rough at all.:D