Advice on academy equipment

[tko51]

Hello everyone,

I will be attending the pre-orientation this Friday for SDPD. I am pretty sure they will be giving a list of equipment to purchase. Does anyone have advice on comfortable and reputable brands to buy? Is there anything I should get extra of? Also, how much will I be looking to spend right away? Thanks for helping out.

tko51

[1tyme]

I would buy a pair of Danner Acadia boots ($220), a Kiwi shoe polish kit ($12), shirt stays ($8) and a G-Shock watch ($50). Stand by for everything else because you'll want to see what the department issues and / or approves for use.

[jato]

I am pretty sure they will be giving a list of equipment to purchase.

Wait for the list and buy the items they recommend.

I would wait until the end of the academy before you buy your patrol equipment. I am not sure what SDPD issues, but I carry a fair amount of my own purchased equipment.

[leif]

i'd get rocky's over the danners for an academy. i wear danners now, and can't get them to shine near as much as my rocky's i had during the academy.

[ftgolfer]

I liked my 5-11 boots for the academy. The zipper made it easy for quick changes. If your hired already, they usually provide a lot of the equiptment for you, so stand by. Atleast the hired guys in my academy had it provided.

[Kieth M.]

Whatever footwear you get, consider getting two pairs. One pair to keep so spit-shined that pilots of high-flying aircraft will call to complain about the reflection...the other pair to change into after morning inspections...spit-shined so-so. The idea is that you protect that first pair and touch them up easily. the second pair are the ones you wear to class and scuff up during training scenarios.

When I went through, my smarter classmates had two sets of leather gear. I think one even had a second gun for inspection purposes. That's more money than I had to spend.

[tko51]

Thanks everyone. This is what I was looking for. I was informed I will get a list of equipment to purchase during pre-orientation. I plan on buying everything right after pre-orientation because the equipment may take a while before arriving. If anyone else has any other suggestions, please chime in. Thanks again.

[Kieth M.]

Do not forget a butane cig lighter and a thick black permanant marker (Sharpie).

The lighter will be used to melt shoe wax onto your leather. It will also burn loose threads (AKA: Irish penants) off of your uniform.

The thick black marker will take care of scuffs in leather on short notice, until you can take care the wax polish to it.

[Ranger Hoot]

Do not forget a butane cig lighter and a thick black permanant marker (Sharpie).

The lighter will be used to melt shoe wax onto your leather. It will also burn loose threads (AKA: Irish penants) off of your uniform.

The thick black marker will take care of scuffs in leather on short notice, until you can take care the wax polish to it.

I have done a ton of boot polishing in my life (Army, FF/Medic, LEO) and while in the Army I learned how to make mirrors out of leather. I can make penny loafers blinding. I am still polishing my boots at the start of every work week.

While a lighter will work, I personally would recommend using a paint stripper or heat gun. I was set straight in Ranger Battalion in '96 and haven't used a lighter to polish since.

[tko51]

Is there a site or somewhere else I can learn to shine and polish my boots with a lighter? I just purchased the kiwi shoe polish.

[Kieth M.]

I just googled "spit shining boots." Alas, none of what I saw involves the use of melted (or, in my case flaming) polish.

Know any former Soldiers, Marines, Sailors? Ask a local cop if they know of a shoeshine stand where the guy will spit shine.

[LAschoolCop]

Spit shine...My academy required Coraframs!!! Much better then shining...yes I know its cheating but a little windex and the looked great!