Frizzman
US Veteran
1. Issued first M10 in 1978. While going through the local academy(after being on the job for almost a year) my third issued M10 had the bolt stop break while shooting the final qualification.
2. Given a Oldsmobile Diesel sedan for a marked uniform patrol unit. The engine blew up the first month it was in service. The department bought three of them and the other two went down fairly quickly. Another one had the engine blow and the last one had gas put in it. On top of that, they were so slow that a kid on a tricycle could outrun them and they sounded like a city bus coming down the road.
3. The light bar on one car I was driving caught fire while I was driving to a domestic call one night.
4. Was issued a first generation balistic vest. It was some off brand I never heard of. It was so hot and itchy and so bulky that nobody wore them.
5. Shiny, imitation patent leather duty gear that squeaked and stuck to the plastic car seats and soon started the crack.
6. Given a tiny Chevette to drive one one department and later a Chrysler K Car...What a piece of...Well, you know.
7. Issued a M10 at the same department that the "Chief" had allowed a buddy to chrome plate. I do mean chrome and not nickel. All the issued revolvers had this treatment and all were flaking. Some had the cylinders freeze. I wound up just bringing my 586 to work with the Bianchi Breakfront security holster I bought for it. Nobody seemed to notice or care that I did.
8. Issued a little slapjack for an impact weapon...Just the slapjack.(No, not a blackjack). I bought my own Convoy for my back pocket as well as a baton. Used my 7 cell Kellight most of the time for that purpose.
9. The same department issued exactly 12 rounds of .38 Spl RNL. Speedloaders were forbidden.
10. One department prohibited backup weapons or any kind of pocket knives. I carried both anyway. Most of the other officers on patrol did also.
11. One rural department had new officers work in civilian clothes for a month or so before issuing 2 uniforms. The Sheriff wanted to make sure you didn't quit before ordering any uniforms. One did get a badge and ID. You could carry your own .38 if you wanted...or not.
I could go on but I have probably forgotten more than I can remember. I eventually left law enforcement after about 14 years and went into another line of work. Some of the incentive to make the change was the lousy equipment and poor quality supervisors that I encountered. Not all were like that but it only takes one to get you killed. I did miss it for a while but got over that...Best of luck to all the people still on the job!
9.
2. Given a Oldsmobile Diesel sedan for a marked uniform patrol unit. The engine blew up the first month it was in service. The department bought three of them and the other two went down fairly quickly. Another one had the engine blow and the last one had gas put in it. On top of that, they were so slow that a kid on a tricycle could outrun them and they sounded like a city bus coming down the road.
3. The light bar on one car I was driving caught fire while I was driving to a domestic call one night.
4. Was issued a first generation balistic vest. It was some off brand I never heard of. It was so hot and itchy and so bulky that nobody wore them.
5. Shiny, imitation patent leather duty gear that squeaked and stuck to the plastic car seats and soon started the crack.
6. Given a tiny Chevette to drive one one department and later a Chrysler K Car...What a piece of...Well, you know.
7. Issued a M10 at the same department that the "Chief" had allowed a buddy to chrome plate. I do mean chrome and not nickel. All the issued revolvers had this treatment and all were flaking. Some had the cylinders freeze. I wound up just bringing my 586 to work with the Bianchi Breakfront security holster I bought for it. Nobody seemed to notice or care that I did.
8. Issued a little slapjack for an impact weapon...Just the slapjack.(No, not a blackjack). I bought my own Convoy for my back pocket as well as a baton. Used my 7 cell Kellight most of the time for that purpose.
9. The same department issued exactly 12 rounds of .38 Spl RNL. Speedloaders were forbidden.
10. One department prohibited backup weapons or any kind of pocket knives. I carried both anyway. Most of the other officers on patrol did also.
11. One rural department had new officers work in civilian clothes for a month or so before issuing 2 uniforms. The Sheriff wanted to make sure you didn't quit before ordering any uniforms. One did get a badge and ID. You could carry your own .38 if you wanted...or not.
I could go on but I have probably forgotten more than I can remember. I eventually left law enforcement after about 14 years and went into another line of work. Some of the incentive to make the change was the lousy equipment and poor quality supervisors that I encountered. Not all were like that but it only takes one to get you killed. I did miss it for a while but got over that...Best of luck to all the people still on the job!
9.
