One of the most unique pieces of law enforcement gear that I have seen in recent years is the Kimber JPX OC pistol. The JPX fires a blast of OC at 270 mph. This allows for precise placement of the irritant and very little if any blow back on the officer.
The JPX is a side-by-side double-barreled pistol. It operates just like your handgun and has a double-action pull. I tested the JPX with its included inert training cartridge, and I found it functioned accurately at seven to 10 yards, hitting within a couple inches of my point of aim. This should deliver enough OC to deter all but the most determined offenders.
And should somebody want more than one dose, the JPX is designed to make it easy for you to oblige. To reload, all you have to do is set the firing unit on safe (push the safety on the trigger forward), lower the ambi-locking levers, slide the cartridge unit off, and replace it with a new double-barrel unit. It's much harder to write out how to do this operation than it is to do it. Reloading literally take seconds and uses gross motor skills, so no fumbling with little parts under pressure.
SureFire
Delta Fixed-Blade Knife
Best known for its high-quality, high-intensity flashlights, SureFire also makes a rapidly growing line of tactical products, including suppressors, hearing protection, and knives.
SureFire's Delta Fixed Blade is possibly one of the most useful knives I have ever reviewed, and I have now been reviewing knives and gear for POLICE for more than four years.
The Delta is a one-piece design encompassing the blade, grip, and tang. Such construction makes this fixed-blade knife very strong and tough, and its nine-inch length makes it useful for just about any duty task that requires a blade.
Like its folding knife cousin, the Delta Fixed Blade is designed to be more than a knife. Designed into the knife are a seatbelt cutter, a screwdriver, a 12-gauge wire/flex-cuff cutter, and a self-seating wrench that fits nuts from 1⁄2 inches to 13⁄64 inches.
To ensure the operator gets a good hold on this versatile knife, the grip is textured G-10 with the screwdriver forming an unobtrusive tang.
A polymer sheath is provided. I found this sheath to securely carry the Delta and the proprietary clip was secure when I was shooting, climbing the local hills, and just generally carrying the knife.
The SureFire Delta Fixed Blade knife is not an inexpensive tool at about $250, nor is a fixed-blade knife ideal for every cop, but if you like strong, sharp knives, the Delta is well worth the price.
Streamlight
Stinger LED Flashlight
Streamlight's rechargeable Stinger has made huge inroads into the law enforcement market over the last few years. And with good reason; the Stinger has proven itself to be an affordably priced workhorse that really throws some light.
Of course, there's always room for improvement in any product.
Streamlight improved the Stinger this year by upgrading to a 3-watt LED 80-Lumen high-flux bulb. This light has an expected life of 20,000 hours, compared to 30 hours or so of an incandescent bulb. The longer lasting bulb and the fact that the Stinger is rechargeable can add up to a major cost savings to any officer.
The Stinger LED will also accept a number of accessories from an infrared lens to light wands so that it is useful for missions ranging from tactical operations to directing traffic.
To keep the Stinger LED fully charged you can mount a charger in your cruiser and run it off the power plug. I am impressed enough with the Streamlight Stinger LED that I have one in my POV; I can't give it higher praise than that.
Maxpedition
Operator Tactical Attaché
On duty, duffle bags just don't cut it with all the gear that you need to carry, nor do they protect your stuff, your papers, and, most importantly, your munchies.
Recently, I had the opportunity to spend some quality time with the Operator Tactical Attaché from Gardena, Calif.-based Maxpedition.
And look, like you, I'm tired of companies just painting stuff black and calling it "Tactical." So when I first heard about this bag, I thought "Great, just what we need: another black zippered bag with a 'tactical' name."
But my prejudice almost led me to overlook a really great product.
The Operator Tactical Attaché has all the pockets, "D" rings, straps, and panels that the average officer will need to pack his daily gear. In addition, the end pockets can secure a 32-ounce Nalgene water bottle. There are also straps on the top of the Attaché to secure your baton or an umbrella. The outside pockets can hold extra magazines, PDAs, cameras, and other small items. If that's not enough storage for you, there are points where you can attach carabiners to secure other gear.
Like most cops on patrol, you probably have to drag along more paper than gear and equipment. Maxpedition is aware of this, so the Attaché has a zippered pocket with all the slots and tabs to fit documents, manuals, and ticket books.
You may also need a laptop on duty and not have one mounted in your car. The Attaché can accommodate it. The main pocket is padded and will easily secure a 15.4-inch laptop.
After using Maxpedition's Operator Tactical Attaché, I believe that the company has put a great deal of thought into what you need on the job and how they can make it easy for you to carry it. They've also built this bag to take the kind of punishment that you dish out to your stuff. Constructed from rugged Cordura fabric, the Attaché has a rubberized waterproof bottom that reduces abrasive wear, keeps the bag where you set it, and helps protect the contents. The Maxpedition Operator Tactical Attaché is an excellent carry-all for the street cop or investigator
SigTac
Tac Pants
When SigArms set out to make its own tactical pants, it naturally turned to the training staff at the SigArms Academy for some input. The result is a fine line of tac pants and tac shorts.
Constructed of a Spandex/cotton blend, the SigTac pants and shorts are very comfortable and have a lot of give. These pants don't bind when squatting, kneeling, or when you're driving in them for hours. Aiding in this long-term comfort are the taped seams, which eliminate rough edges that can rub against your legs and backside.
Comfort is just one benefit that the wearer gains from SigTac's Spandex/cotton construction. The material is also rip-stop, so it won't tear if you catch on a nail, door handle, or other object.
The rear pockets have button-close flaps to keep your wallet and whatever else you put in them secure and safe. The bellows thigh pockets have zippers to allow easy access when seated or kneeling, or you can access them from the top through the snap closure flaps. These pockets also have hidden Velcro-closed pockets suitable for carrying a small knife or pens.
Another great feature on the SigTac pants is the design of the belt loops. The loops on these pants are sized to accept larger belts and the side loops generally don't interfere with placement of a paddle, pancake, or channel loop holster.
Scott Smith is a disabled veteran who served as an active-duty Army MP and in the U.S. Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard as a security policeman. He is a contributing editor to POLICE.
