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The equipment carried on the police duty belt has changed over the past 20 or 30 years. Back then, you carried your revolver in a holster, twelve extra rounds of ammo in two dump pouches, a handcuff case, and maybe a baton ring. That's it!
Now, the typical duty belt consists of a semi-auto handgun which is carried in a security holster, two extra magazine pouches, two handcuff cases, a can of pepper spray, an expandable baton, a small flashlight, the police radio, a utility knife, a pouch for latex gloves, belt keepers and maybe a laser, a pager and a cell phone. This can add up to more than 20 pounds. That is 20% of the body weight of a petite female officer, who may have a difficult time of fitting all the items on her duty belt.
Most law enforcement agencies supply the duty belt and equipment, but, outside of the placement of the holster and possibly the magazine pouches, the placement of all other equipment is mostly left to the individual officer's discretion.
Should it be? Or should officers be trained in placing the equipment on the duty belt and told why the equipment is carried in that place?
The importance of the equipment placement on an officer's duty belt is illustrated by an incident that happened in Columbia, MO on January 10, 2005. At around 10 pm, CPD officer Molly Bowden stopped a Mitsubishi Gallant for a traffic violation. Once that vehicle stopped, Officer Bowden exited her marked patrol vehicle and approached the driver's side of the Mitsubishi.
The driver, 23 year old Richard Evans, handed over his driver's license and then fired a shot out the driver's side window, which officials believe to have missed Officer Bowden. Officer Bowden moved back to the rear of the Mitsubishi, squared off to the suspect, and sidestepped to...