RA40
Member
One of the younger generation we know recently graduated from the LAPD Academy a few weeks back. Suggestions on what may be useful when starting out? Considering in the $100-$150 range as a gift.
Gift for a recent academy graduate?
- Thread starter RA40
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It seems you hot the nail on the head; $100 to $150 in cash would be a great gift for someone who is likely going to have to move his household in the near future. Plus, if there's something else he needs, he - rather than you - can decide what he needs to stay alive on the streets.
Hokie_PhD
Member
I think it’s a bit ironic I’m suggesting LA Police Gear as you said they graduated from the LAPD academy, but they have lots of things a new officer will need.
You can do a gift certificate or find out what they like and need.
You can do a gift certificate or find out what they like and need.
Everready73
Member
Good flashlight or a quality Benchnmade or Spyderco knife
It depends on his agency. Is he employed by LAPD or did he attend their academy for a smaller agency. Teller County sends their folks through our academy because they are much smaller and don't have the ability to run their own.
LAPD may issue him everything he "needs", but does he have a good knife? Ka-Bar makes the TDI, which is designed to be carried on the under belt. Most of the guys I know carry it behind their mag carrier. The only purpose for the TDI is as a defence against a weapon grab. Someone goes for your gun, you trap like normal but instead of the normal combatives you pull the TDI and put it through their tender bits. Done. They are fairly cheap and make damn good life insurance.
https://www.kabar.com/knives/detail/48
LAPD may issue him everything he "needs", but does he have a good knife? Ka-Bar makes the TDI, which is designed to be carried on the under belt. Most of the guys I know carry it behind their mag carrier. The only purpose for the TDI is as a defence against a weapon grab. Someone goes for your gun, you trap like normal but instead of the normal combatives you pull the TDI and put it through their tender bits. Done. They are fairly cheap and make damn good life insurance.
https://www.kabar.com/knives/detail/48
BSA1
member
I don't know what equipment Officers are allowed to carry but a rescue knife that has a seat belt cutter and a glass breaker on it would be a nice item to have on the duty belt,
http://www.benchmade.com/rescue-knives/triage-family.html
http://www.benchmade.com/rescue-knives/triage-family.html
slicksleeve
Member
Different things come to mind. His agency may issue everything he "needs," but there are other little things. Will be have a drive home car, or share with other employees? A good knife, a light that clips to his visor to shine on his paperwork at night to avoid turning on the dome light. A seat organizer for report holders etc. Extra pair of boots for those rainy days. Handcuff keys to hide out on his person. Ink pens with his agency logo made on them. Quality sungalsses. More ammo, (my agency is stingy with it). Flashlights, more is better. A holster for his backup gun. Off duty holster for his primary gun. Tourniquetts and a carrier for it on his duty belt. I'll think of more later but there are many things he will find that he needs that will dollar a guy to death.
bassjam
Member
Cash. It may not seem as personal, but if you don't already know exactly what this person would like or need I think the best thing is cash and them him/her decide how to spend it.
I hate it when people buy me stuff they think I will like. If it is clothing it never fits and if it is something else it is usually something I won't ever use. I vote for giving him cash. No gift cards either. Put a hundred dollar bill in a card for him.
Were I the recipient, then cash would be my preference by far, for exactly those reasons.
Wisco
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I second this. It’s been years since I’ve received a non-cash gift I liked or would actually use.
$50 or $100 bills are my standard gifts for adults for big life events - weddings, graduations, etc.
Neo-Luddite
Member
NRA "Life of Duty" gift membership if he is not already a member. Or, I really like BSA1's idea of a knife w/ a glass breaker/seat belt cutter....or, I somewhat like the tools dedicated to this purpose alone as they tend to not compromise in order to fit the knife blade in. Or find out his boot size and get him some Spenco insoles to try out---youngsters tend to skip this detail.
Want the perfect gift?
Get a soft trauma pack to go into the chest pocket on his body armor. If you think it appropriate, letter a Bible verse on the front (Maybe Ephesians 6:10 "Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.")
And then tape 2 $50 bills in a ziplock on the back. There will be a day where he double shifts, didn't bring a lunch, and doesn't have a single dollar in his wallet.
Get a soft trauma pack to go into the chest pocket on his body armor. If you think it appropriate, letter a Bible verse on the front (Maybe Ephesians 6:10 "Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.")
And then tape 2 $50 bills in a ziplock on the back. There will be a day where he double shifts, didn't bring a lunch, and doesn't have a single dollar in his wallet.
JONWILL
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This is the best answer IMHO. Nothing like opening up a card and seeing a $100. Go get a new one from the bank.
BSA1
member
He will use a rescue knife many more times than the $100.00 and may even save some lives in doing so. A rescue knife is a niche product many professionals either never get around to buying one or are unwilling to spend that much money for one.
A regular knife cuts seatbelt webbing just fine and every uniformed officer carries a flashlight and baton which are perfectly capable of breaking glass. I second giving him cash to buy what he needs and what fits him, and add placing it in a copy of Norman V. Peale's "The Power of Positive Thinking."
Riomouse911
Member
Having tried to bash numerous vehicle windows out over the decades with flashlight, baton and/or boot with varying levels of success, it’s a lot easier said than done. The window breakers make it a cinch (as do porcelain spark plug chips!).
But, I agree with the cash gift idea. It may go for something he needs that no one else thought of
. Stay safe!
herrwalther
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Contact his department. Get an idea of what he already has for duty gear. So you have a better idea of what can be better. If they say important items like flashlights are out of pocket expenses, get him a good light like a Stinger. His department might issue him a crappy fixed baton. Get him a good ASP model. Many police officers and POs I work with will buy themselves custom kydex gear holders. I routinely work with a parole officer who has a 1 piece kydex holster that holds 2 magazines, 1 pair of handcuffs kangerooed in front of the magazines, and a flashlight holder canted forward 15 degrees for easy grabbing with either hand.
NorthBorder
Member
Or, ask him what he could use or would like. Does it have to be a surprise?
Panzerschwein
member
An NBA membership and a KJB.
I agree on the insoles. I didn't start using the 3/4 length ones till 2 years ago. They are unbelievable. Them and a good light would make 100.
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