About Vest?

[Victorunit]

I have a new patrol duty starting tomorrow. Will be in dark areas late at night out of my vehicle for a few minutes. My only weapon I can carry on my person is the HT. I'm thinking of purchasing a vest. Any recommendations? I'm not as worried about a bullet as I am a knife being used.

[michiganstud]

I have a new patrol duty starting tomorrow. Will be in dark areas late at night out of my vehicle for a few minutes. My only weapon I can carry on my person is the HT. I'm thinking of purchasing a vest. Any recommendations? I'm not as worried about a bullet as I am a knife being used.

OK, a few questions........you are put in uniform? You are driving a police car?

Why don't they supply you with a vest????

[Victorunit]

OK, a few questions........you are put in uniform? You are driving a police car?

Why don't they supply you with a vest????

I am a volunteer. I drive a Victor Unit. (I'm one of those).
I pay for all my gear. The only thing the station provides the volunteers with is a short sleeve shirt, emblems, gas and upkeep for our units. We must also raise money to buy our units.

[michiganstud]

I am a volunteer. I drive a Victor Unit. (I'm one of those).
I pay for all my gear. The only thing the station provides the volunteers with is a short sleeve shirt, emblems, gas and upkeep for our units. We must also raise money to buy our units.

government owned units or your own personal? What do you drive? Marked police at all?

Do you look like one of the deputies?

[Toeknee112]

Say wuh? A volunteer??? What type of non-enforcement activities will you be involved in that you would need a vest?

[Victorunit]

The volunteers raise the money to buy the units. The County pays for the units to have the decals, sheriff emblem, numbers and the words Citizen on Patrol. The unit then becomes county property.
We only drive the Sheriff Units and Detectives with an out of service sign to the mechanics or to the central station for radio repair.

The volunteers at my station do a lot of traffic control, vacations checks, transports occasionally, certain town facility lock ups, station errands, parking tickets and paycheck pick up are just a few.

The new assignment of locking up at night has got me thinking maybe I should invest in a vest.

[Victorunit]

The are tan and OD, we are white and OD.
We also have that lovely bright orange colored jackets to wear.
(Hats say sheriff)

[michiganstud]

The volunteers raise the money to buy the units. The County pays for the units to have the decals, sheriff emblem, numbers and the words Citizen on Patrol. The unit then becomes county property.
We only drive the Sheriff Units and Detectives with an out of service sign to the mechanics or to the central station for radio repair.

The volunteers at my station do a lot of traffic control, vacations checks, transports occasionally, certain town facility lock ups, station errands, parking tickets and paycheck pick up are just a few.

The new assignment of locking up at night has got me thinking maybe I should invest in a vest.

OK, so you do some things where you could get hurt. I would definately invest in a vest. Try ebay for a "kevlar vest" or "body armor" as your search.

In regards to stabbing - don't let anyone get close to you. Maintain a safety zone.

Do they teach you anything as far as defensive tactics at all? What are you locking up at night?

My general feeling is that you'll be just fine, just watch yourself and don't let your guard down.

[Victorunit]

Appreciate the tip!
Will check out the ebay.

We get a lot of training, but they do not teach self defense. Which I think is a mistake. The people who do not like the cops do not like us because we are part of the cops. We do everything we can to take the load off of the officers. Including the paperwork for a T/C and Tow.
We get out of our vehicles and do vacation checks. We now are doing lock ups at parks. I get to use the blow horn first. Woohoo! :rolleyes:

[Babysmamadrama]

Partner, I admire volunteers I really do, but if you are working in places where you need a vest and you are not armed, you should volunteer your time in something a bit safer.

Of course, thats my opinion. I see you live in Cali, and it seems that California has some very strict personal weapons laws. But if you do get a vest, you should probably look at what the corrections officers wear versus what officers wear. Officer vests provide ballistic protection, and a knife will go through it.

[Victorunit]

I like what I do to much, so will never give it up. Certainly we could use some extra protection, and training, but I do not think volunteers should carry weapons. Imagine a scenario behind that.

Will look into the corrections officer vest too. Thanks!

[Babysmamadrama]

The scenario of being an armed citizen protecting yourself, what's wrong with that? You can have a vest on all day long, but when the bad guy figures that out he is going to put that blade in you jugular or your temple.

My vest buys me time to stay in the fight, return fire and win.

Whatever you do be careful.

[michiganstud]

The people who do not like the cops do not like us because we are part of the cops.

Exactly the point of getting a vest. A bad guy isn't going to ask if you are a volunteer or not before he shoots you. He will see the uniform and a badge and associate you with police.

Get a vest. And radio if the poop hits the fan. Better to call something in than be dead.

[Valor55]

Your biggest concern on this detail would be interrupting a burglary in progress right? Get a vest.

[Victorunit]

The scenario of being an armed citizen protecting yourself, what's wrong with that? You can have a vest on all day long, but when the bad guy figures that out he is going to put that blade in you jugular or your temple.

My vest buys me time to stay in the fight, return fire and win.

Whatever you do be careful.

There is a law against volunteers being armed. We can have a weapon at home, but no where else without a permit to carry a conceled. (Unless that law has changed too). The only weapon I have is a 70,000 volt stun gun, but can't carry that on me either. I do keep it in my personal vechicle in case I break down and run into a problem. There may be a law against that, but have not checked into it yet.

Yes, intrupting a burgulary in process or walking in on a drug deal at the parks or a pycho. I do have a partner, but the one I have tonight is 86 years old.
I will definatly get a vest. For tonights lock up maybe I can fill my bra full of sand.