Equipment Locations and Possibility of Robbery?

[theextremeidiot]

Hi, just a question. Where is stuff located in a police car, like batons, flashlights, safety vests, shotguns etc and what happens if you like pull someone over in an emergency or stop the car. Do you lock because couldn't someone come along and steal something?

[greenlead]

Equipment location depends on each individual officers preference.

Squad cars are, as a rule, locked whenever the officer is not with the car.

[theextremeidiot]

But what about if they are chasing someone and the person runs. They won't have time to lock the car or barely enough time to take the keys out of the ignition will they? Especially if they are working alone.

[HiTechCj]

Yep they get stolen -

About 24 years ago, during my first month of the job I was assigned to a South Central Los Angeles Division - on the graveyard (AM Watch) shift. It was my first night driving. An officer needs help call came out and we responded. As we were driving down a major street (Alameda) we saw a black and white, with the red lights and siren going the opposite direction. We passed at a very high closure (probably each doing in excess of 50) so we couldn't see in the car. But, my training officer commented that somebody was going the wrong way. Well, the officers had gone in foot pursuit of a robbery suspect, ran down a short block and down an alley. The suspect doubled back, hopped in the black and white and drove off. It was him that we passed going the opposite direction.

Now, in most agencies, all the cars are keyed the same. So, you can lock your car and if it needs to be moved, someone can do it. But, it is not uncommon for radios, shotguns and entire cars to be stolen. Of course, if you get your stuff stolen - you get disciplined for it!

Keep well,
Raymond
www.hitechcj.com

[theextremeidiot]

But if stealing of radios and firearms is not uncommon isn't it dangerous. I mean, people could use shotguns in robberies etc and radios to avoid police!

[99TAC]

Shotguns and rifles are in a locking mount, they aren't just sitting in the car. You need a key or other device to get those out. Also some police cars have transmission locks, which means the car won't shift out of park unless you unlock the trans.

[tcsd1236]

I carry 4 diffeerent ignition keys with me on duty to avoid getting locked out. That way its nothing to just hit the door lock on your way out of the car.

[mcsap]

Unless you were totally familiar with our radio system, it's 16 channels, all of the 10 codes we still use, the landmarks that we use for which we have "pet" names, and the numerical designations for the officers, it will mainly sound like a bunch of gibberish. And if someone is driving a stolen cruiser, they will be too busy driving to be able to focus on the radio.