If there is anything that cops are getting good at, it's the use of technology. That probably comes from being inundated with new stuff. While many departments have little money for new equipment purchases, others are finding ways to acquire new gear through expenditure of seizure funds, private sector grants, and donated equipment.
Back in the day (or so I've heard) you were lucky to have a working flashlight, and a car that would keep running. Nowadays officers frequently have all manner of equipment at their disposal. From high-tech emergency lighting gear to bio-hazard oriented personal protective equipment to various non-lethal weapons, the bigger problem is often how to carry it all.
While most of our equipment has a very specific purpose, much of it can be used in various creative ways in order to help with the many unexpected things that crop up during a shift. Officers are really only limited by their own imaginations - and the occasional department policy - in finding inventive ways to solve their problems.
This train of thought was prompted by the current story that is going around about the officer in Washington State that got the toddler to unlock a car he was "trapped" in by using the laser of his TASER to entice the kid to push the electric lock button. What a great idea! Positively inspired, and much better (and safer) than the time honored method of applying a baton or flashlight to window glass.
Of course the smashing out of a window with a flashlight or baton is also an improvisation, albeit a pretty old fashioned one. There are other uses for batons and flashlights that don't involve hitting someone or something. I have seen officers use batons as pry-bars, and even as part of an improvised carry method for an injured person.
Handcuffs can be used as a locking device for more than transporting a suspect. They're handy for making a weapon safe, or securing a gated enclosure. If you expand the concept to flex-cuffs, there are many ways to improvise helpful solutions.
Those protective gloves you carry as a bio-hazard defense can also be used for handling and storing evidence. And you can't even list all the ways your patrol knife comes in handy.
Don't forget your vehicle. While it's great for getting you from here to there, remember that it can also be used as concealment, or as an intervening obstacle to provide reactionary gap while dealing with someone on the street. Again, there are many uses for your ride, if you just keep an open mind. I remember one night three of us in separate patrol units herded a group of pigs that had escaped from a stockyard, and were wandering around on a busy highway. There's an improvised use for you!
Of course, you have to guard against using technology in ways that will get you in trouble, or that aren't tactically safe. Smacking someone in the head with a flashlight comes to mind (unless deadly force is justified), or taking cover from incoming rounds behind a car door. Be safe and smart, as well as creative!
One of the great things about coppers is their ability to problem solve under pressure. No matter how much training you get, every day on the street presents opportunities to find solutions to unique problems. That keeps the job interesting - and oftentimes provides a measure of satisfaction for those involved.
Your department loads you down with a lot of gear when you hit the street, and sometimes we whine about that. Day-to-day hauling all that gear around can be a hassle. Get used to it though, because if history is any indicator, more and more technology is coming down the pike toward us. The last 20 years have seen a veritable explosion in the amount of technology available to officers.
However, no matter how much stuff you cram into your trunk and briefcase, or hang on your "bat-belt", you'll always run into situations that you're not equipped to handle. That's when you get creative - and that's part of the fun of being a cop!
Stay safe, and wear your vest!
