Police with two handguns on duty belt?

Status
Not open for further replies.
M

MrFreeze

Member
Joined
Dec 4, 2003
Messages
149
Location
Tampa, FL
I visited the Titusville (Florida) area twice this year...once on a scouting outing, and the second time on the duck hunt. The first time was I in a jiffy store and saw a county Deputy with a holstered gun on his strong side hip at 3 o'clock, and a second gun that would be crossdraw at 10:30. I thought maybe it was just a fluke or something, but then on the second trip to the area, I saw it again...twice. This time we were out at 3:30 am and stopped to get doughnuts no lie:D. There were two City of Titusville officers, and each had the same setup as the Deputy. I'm a bit intrigued, since I've never seen this before.

What gives here? Is it more Tactical (tm)? Is it easier to shoot BG's while seated in your vehicle? Do they carry a third gun as a BUG? Anyone know other departments that do this?

Travis
 
how much you wanna bet they have a thrid one stuck somewhere!!! I'd bet the cross draw is for access while seated in a vehicle, but that is very strange!
 
I know one officer that carries his duty sidearm, another sidearm in an SOB holster and his BUG on his ankle. All three guns are the same caliber, so in a pinch, he can use the ammunition from his spare magazines in any of them. The magazines for his issued firearm also fit the SOB gun. He claims the SOB isn't uncomfortable, but I know it would drive me nuts doing a patrol while sitting on a gun.

He's the only LEO I've met that carries 2 visible handguns.
 
I would say that is one smart police department. It's gotta be faster to draw another weapon then reload the one in your hand!
 
I'm with Andrew.

My local PD recently started carrying Tasers in just this manner. Crossdraw setup on their duty belt.

Some of them carry in a drop down thigh holster on the same side as their sidearm.
 
Way back in the day i think it was Chicago that was still issuing revolvers (and requiring to be carried) while other departments around the nation were switching to autos. Well, the regs allowed for the use of a "back up gun" and those regs didnt make a stipulation as to what KIND of BUG you carried. So some of the more "tactical" minded officers took to carrying their required revolver on one side and their full-sized semiauto "BUG" on the other side. This is probably not the case here but its something to think about. Personally i think the TASER idea has merit.
 
Here is a pic from the Taser web page; http://www.taser.com/pages/products/leaccessories02.html

44854a.jpg
 
In Tukwila, one of the local small cites out here, most officers carry the older LARGE Taser, crossdraw, right above their left knee in a tactical leg holster.

The problem is none of them have the leg straps tightened and it flops around like a bass in a jon boat.
I hope none of them ever have to engage in a foot pursuit. As it is most of them walk with a limp making them look like Chester on Gunsmoke.

I hope they convert soon to the newer small model and wear in up on the belt where it is secure. In a struggle that loose leg holster is a liability.
 
Well, I should have talked to one of the officers or the Deputy. The taser is something I hadn't thought about, and I imagine that's what it was. Unfortunately, I didn't get to take a long look at the sidearms, so there's no telling for sure.

Thanks for the input!

Travis
 
...Delmar... It's gotta be faster to draw another weapon then reload the one in your hand!
Click to expand...

I have alway known that as a "New York Re-Load",
Because of just that reason, worry about the mag change after the threat is neutralized.

RTFM
 
Haven't seen that in my neck of the woods. Most SO deputy's here have a "Car Gun" that they can have quick access to if they need a gun while in the car.

Two pistols was SOP for Chicago for several decades.
Click to expand...

Must have been before Daley got in office.

Smoke
 
I saw this too

I spoke with a uniformed LEO from the Carlsbad (CA) Police Department who was in my place of employment for awhile recently. I noticed that he was carrying two Glocks. One was on his strong side in a normal holster, and the other was carried crossdraw on the opposite side. They looked like the same caliber (.40), and might have been a G22 and a G23. He was sort of a young, fit, gung-ho type of guy with a crewcut who seemed very serious about his job.
 
How do you guys figure it is faster to draw a second gun than it is to reload the empty first one? Maybe back in the revolver day, but if that is the case now you need to practice your reloads more.

I would hazard a guess that a draw stroke from a retention duty rig would be at 1.5 on a good day with a very accomplished shooter. Add in dropping the first empty gun, and then going to a cross draw position that is probably not as natural as strong side and you are getting more complications than are neccesary. A regular old reload is going to be faster.

I can see the second crossdraw gun for use when sitting in the car, or in case of malfunction or parts breakage in the primary gun, or in case of scuffle and the primary gun can't be reached. (I would image that the crossdraw weak side gun could be drawn with the weak arm from a cavalry style draw).

Faster than a reload though? Only if your reloads well and truely suck. :D
 
Phoenix PD

has taken to carrying their Tasers predominantly in low-ride thigh rigs on their dominant side. It seems like putting it crossdraw may be a better choice for many folks.

I've only see two-GUN carry, exposed, in photos of Chicago patrolman, as someone else mentioned.

I'm aligned with Correia. Has anyone considered what they would do with their primary gun(PG) if they went for their BUG as a 'reload'? Would you toss it to the asphalt? I don't really think that's likely. Would you holster it empty, or stick it in your waist or pocket? If so, it seems to me that amount of time could be used to reload it. Afterall, the PG is the one you should be(and probably are) carrying spare ammo for.

Do you carry your BUG to be truly fast and accessible? IOW, like twin belt or shoulder rigs, or in the weak-side front pocket? I feel that ankle, bellyband, Thunderwear or vest strap carry will come up short vs. a speed-reload.

Let's say you just ditch it and go for the BUG. You've ran your PG dry, which is already a serious situation. Why give up the gun you most likely carry a reload for to grab one(likely to be) smaller in both size and power and(quite likely to be) incompatible with the reload for your PG? Even if you are super-high-speed/low drag/tactical, and carry a reload for your BUG, you are still giving up the accuracy, power and familiarity of your PG.

Maybe these guys have just hit upon the "solution" of two full-sized(pick your flavor)guns for familiarity and compatibility. However, that is simply not a practical, viable solution for most of us, particulary in CCW.
 
Let's say you just ditch it and go for the BUG. You've ran your PG dry, which is already a serious situation. Why give up the gun you most likely carry a reload for to grab one(likely to be) smaller in both size and power and(quite likely to be) incompatible with the reload for your PG? Even if you are super-high-speed/low drag/tactical, and carry a reload for your BUG, you are still giving up the accuracy, power and familiarity of your PG.
Click to expand...

The theory behind carrying two full sized guns plus a BUG on the ankle comes from shootouts like the 1986 FBI shootout in Miami. One of the agent's S&W was hit in the slide and disabled. He had already went through his 3 magazines and didn't carry a BUG or any other gun. He died holding his empty and broke S&W. That made many LEOs reconsider what and how they carried their firearms.
 
Two Guns

The first time was I in a jiffy store and saw a county Deputy with a holstered gun on his strong side hip at 3 o'clock, and a second gun that would be crossdraw at 10:30. I thought maybe it was just a fluke or something, but then on the second trip to the area, I saw it again...twice.
Click to expand...

Of course they need two guns. One to shoot, one to plant. Don't they teach y'all arithmetic?:p
 
Two pistols was SOP for Chicago for several decades.
Click to expand...
Well Titusville is a far cry from Chicago. The town closes down after dark. The most trouble they are likely to encounter is a drunk old guy or the random rowdy NASA geek (oxymoron, I know). Seems as if they got a case of SWATitus up there like all other departments are getting. Unprofessional IMO. Cops are here to keep the peace and serve the community, not to enforce the law and separate themselves from the rest of us. If that is what they want, move to Japan and be a cop. And if I hear the word "tactical" one more time this week, I'm gonna puke.

GT
 
Tarpley,

I agree with the overly-tactical approach of the Titusville group. It was a tad weird. Maybe they felt undergunned with no fewer than 100 guys all waiting in line for opening day of duck season at 3 am!

did ya puke yet? :)

Travis
 
BluesBear

When your carrying the Taser in an off side leg holster, it works better if the strap is a little loose. Generally, outside the car, you want the Taser far enough towards the front of your leg that you can just reach down with your strong hand if you need it. Once you get back in the car, you want enough slack so that you can push it over to the side, where its not under the steering wheel getting in the way. Also, if that Taser and holster is not assigned to a particular officer, just picked up at the beginning of shift, they may be leaving it loose rather than taking the time to adjust it every time it changes hands. I could be wrong, but thats how it usually goes around here.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

J
  • Locked
Deputies Apologize for L.A. Shooting
2 3 4
Replies
88
Views
3K
Justin
Justin
H
  • Locked
handcuffed woman shot by police
2
Replies
38
Views
4K
Daniel T
D
B
  • Locked
Rule #5....
Replies
15
Views
1K
BrokenPaw
B
W
  • Locked
(LA) Two women use handguns to capture burglars 09-05-03
Replies
5
Views
730
Standing Wolf
S
B
  • Locked
THIS is why we should be suspicious of police!
2 3
Replies
61
Views
5K
pax
P
Back
Top