Who Keeps A Duty Belt @ The Ready?

[Old cop]

I keep an old duty belt w/a holster & double mag pouch for my M&P 2.0 Compact in my closet. I grabbed it last week when my out of town neighbor called to say their alarm company notified them someone was in the house. Turned out all was well & I cancelled 911, but I'm wondering how many others do the same thing. It's the second time in past nine years I've had to do this.

 

[brendonjames65]

I put my Sam Browne away in a plastic storage container 5 years ago after I retired and haven't worn it since. It still has 2 sets of handcuffs and pepper spray.

Seems like yesterday when I was strapping it on in the locker room getting ready for a shift. Don't know where the time goes, just living the dream in Montana now.

I wear a pistol everyday, it's still a necessary tool, just don't need the duty belt anymore.

 

[gp52555]

I got out my duty rig a few months ago. old all leather basket weave style plus old uniform shirt. Something in the air here causes leather and cotton to shrink a few sizes over the years.

 

[Bald1]

I've never been a LEO and it's not technically a duty belt but I do have a 4"model 64 on a cartridge belt with 20 rounds at the ready. It's basically my woods carry set up but , same concept. It's in the closet when at home and hanging on headboard when I'm at the cabin. Cuz u never know.

 

[walnutred]

Not a duty belt but I keep a M1923 cartridge belt filled with Garand clips and an M1 bayonet on M7 scabbard in my closet.

 

[Eric300]

Not exactly my old duty belt but I do keep this at the ready....

...as well as this hanging in my bedroom closet because, well.....you just never know when evil is going to rear its ugly head.

 

[Miami_JBT]

My duty gear is 500 miles north of me in storage at the moment. But I still have a belt, even though I haven't worn one in six years. The last five, I was riding desk as a plainclothes detective.

 

[lkabug]

I still have my belt ready to go. Although I have to "suck it in" a good bit to strap it on these days. Must be the fresh night air the lake.

 

[sigp220.45]

Kinda. I worked in soft clothes, but my old rig out is loaded up

 

[Xfuzz]

Soft threads most of my career so no old duty belt.
Seems many of the old detectives at my PD used the
Mexican carry method.

I do have my old kevlar vest.
It was donated to me by a 100Club member as
back then our department did not issue them.

Tried it on......looked like a baby's bib....

My first issued Police ID.....5'11" 157 lbs at the age of 19.
My last... near 30 years later 6'3.5" 230lbs age 48.

 

[haywood]

Never had a duty belt but, I carry enough "gear" on my belt and in my cargo shorts to cover most anything I may need during the day. At night it all stays together in case it's needed.

 

[Puller]

Never been a LEO so no old duty belt laying around, but I do keep a ready/survival vest on standby in the closet. It's got two loaded Glock 19 magazines in pouch, two Fenix flashlights, and a PFAK clipped to it.

I've had things go bump in the night and since my G19 is always close at hand, if I need to go outside I grab it and the vest after I've slipped on some pants. Slip on Muck boots are always by the back door.

 

[Fishinfool]

For years I have kept an old nylon duty type belt with a 4 inch N frame holster, twin speed loader pouches, a small led flashlight, and a ESEE 4 knife attached.

Just clip it on prior to heading into the woods, then grab the appropriate back pack - photography, fishing, ect.

Larry

 

[ironhead7544]

I have one belt set up for shotgun and another for rifle. Both have pistol holsters and mag pouches. If I decide to grab up my 9mm Colt carbine I have an over the shoulder pouch with 8 mags in it.

You can never be too ready.

 

[hudson69]

I was reading up on "Battle Belts" and decided that I had enough gear to put together once from items I had been issued through my military and LE career. I keep it in the closet 90% of the time. The other 10% it is a range belt. It is set up for a compact Glock wearing a WML and has the required two spare mags, a multitool, a fixed blade knife, trauma kit and a flashlight. I am retired from the military now and my LE job is in investigations so I'm not required to have it, but it's available if I do.

 

[msp2640]

I was on the fence about responding to this at first and re-read the original post twice - as it had popped up on the weekly update email from this forum. Being retired LE myself, I do keep a Shield 45, spare mag and light handy, for a time when I hope I never need it. My concern/ worry was with the response to a house alarm, with most likely local LE already responding. I think this could end in disaster for someone trying to help, on what is just a property crime at the time - unless the responding PD is fully aware your involvement. This keys my memory of an Officer who responded off duty to an incident, near his own residence, without the knowledge of the local PD and was shot and killed as a result, it may have even been his own department, I just can't recall all the details, but it was within the last year or so, maybe Washington state? Apologies for the drift of the thread, but any sort response from non uniformed people (LE or not) always worried me. Apologies, as this is not meant to offend or second guess anyone's actions. Thanks, Bill in MA

 

[Patter7621]

I have been retired from my EMS/LEO profession 8 years. Every time I get my duty belt out to sell, I just can't do it. I usually dust it off almost every other month. I do keep it stocked with the exception of my sidearm. I keep it ready if I should ever need it in a few seconds. I'm glad I'm not by myself. I still miss being able to help people as my primary job, but getting old makes us realize I shouldn't be the first one through the door anymore. Stay safe.

 

[minconrevo]

Quick to get on is an over the shoulder bailout bag can carry gun, ammo and more, even a gun belt. Given time the pistol/holster in it, as well as mag, can go on the waist. Bag is handy to tote trauma medical kit, flashlight(s), cuffs, HD fixed blade rescue knife, mags/ammo/shells for long gun and other essentials. Potentially the outside of the bag could have appropriate Velcro patches attached to identify individual as a "good guy".

 

[Goldstar225]

I hung my duty belt up in my closet when I walked in the door after I retired four years ago. I don't think I've taken it down since then nor do I plan too.

 

[billj47]

Go belt

Have a go belt and a go-bag. Quick grab if I need it. Always a go-bag in my trunk. ETC. Lots of first aid items and survival gear. No, I am not paranoid.

 

[326MOD10]

I turned in everything when I retired as far as duty gear goes.

I do still have my last weapon and magazines but everything else is long gone.

I even gave them items I had purchased. Not LEO any longer so don't need to respond like one.

If I can't hunker down at home, or handle with my EDC gear when the problem presents itself, a belt isn't going to help me much.

 

[BAM-BAM]

Kinda. I worked in soft clothes, but my old rig out is loaded up

I bought two of these Galco Miami Vice rigs "used", for pennies on the dollar, in the 80s or 90s..... one single stack is currently set up with a Sig 245 and 2 extra mags (currently my winter walk the dog in the county park rig) the other double stack has a Beretta 92 Compact and two extra mags.

Easy to grab and go like a jacket and easy to pull something on over them!

 

[kbm6893]

My old duty belts are in a storage bin in my closet, but I don't leave valuable items like guns, magazines, or ammunition lying around. That's all locked in the safe. I get the concept of a get up and go belt, but I'm not getting up and going anywhere so quickly that I can't get to my safe. And I'm definitely not getting a gun to go investigate a neighbor's house alarm, with PD on the way, who will likely mistake me for the bad guy. What I would do is watch out the window and be a good witness. MAYBE step out into my steps to get a better view, but that's it.

On another note, I sold my 5946 many years ago but replaced it a few years ago. I still have my old duty rig so I put it on. I had lost about 40 pounds so I am back to academy graduation weight and it fit like a glove. Did bring back lots of memories.

 

[Jessie]

I just have a kydex IWB for my compact 2.0 that I can wear instantly and out of sight.
Besides, I never had a duty belt per say.

 

[moosedog]

I have a shoulder rig with gun and extra magazines.

 

[mrstang01]

I think an interesting point of info would be, do you live in a city, or a rural area. I believe most gun folk in the rural area keep some kind of setup they can grab for a bump in the night situation, I know I do, and I've never been a LEO, although my father was.

It's much handier to have some place for the light, weapon, mags, speedloaders, etc to hang, than trying to stick them all in my boxers...lol.

 

[sipowicz]

I just use mine twice a month with my wife. After I clear the house I ask her if she'd like me to hang around awhile until she feels safe.

 

[Old cop]

I think an interesting point of info would be, do you live in a city, or a rural area. I believe most gun folk in the rural area keep some kind of setup they can grab for a bump in the night situation, I know I do, and I've never been a LEO, although my father was.

It's much handier to have some place for the light, weapon, mags, speedloaders, etc to hang, than trying to stick them all in my boxers...lol.

We live in an urban county w/LEO response times to an emergency about five minutes. I called them both times with my clothing description as well as the fact I'm retired LEO & armed. Last time the officer arrived in a few minutes & checked the house while I waited outside at his direction. This time I called them off when I found the house secure.

 

[POC]

I prefer an over the shoulder nylon "man purse" over a duty belt. I can secure it in my gun safe or I can hang it in my closet. It holds a pistol, reloads, handheld flashlight and a fresh chem light with a house key attached. I call it my "bump bag".if I hear a suspicious noise I can grab it quickly. If I answer the door or go outside it does not scream "Man with a gun" . The chem light is in case I call 911 and I do not want to leave my bedroom. When the officers arrive I can activate the chem light and toss it out a window. Better than getting the door kicked in or telling them to find the hidden key outside

 

[Dr. Olds]

Back to the "Old Man" comment. I would do the same for some of my neighbors. I carry all the time never know when danger will occur. HATS off to all you Law enforcement folks.