When I first got on Detroit PD, my scout car partner asked me if I had been issued a sap. I said no, and he drove around until we found a Edison crew working on a pole. He asked the Edison guy in charge if he could cut me a piece of big cable for a sap. The Edison guy even wrapped the ends for me with a electrical tape.
My partner said "Here, that will get you thru until you can afford one from the uniform store."
My, how police work has changed.