Law enforcement agencies, commonly called the police, are tasked by the government to protect and serve the people. Proper equipment is a vital component of an effective law enforcement body. Standard equipment issued to a police officer includes a gun, a holster for the gun, handcuffs, a nightstick, and a two-way transmission radio. The gun issued is only to be used if the officer is fired at. By no means should a police officer shoot first shot unless he or the other people around him are in danger. The handcuffs are to be used to restrain an assailant. The nightstick is a non-lethal weapon that an officer can utilize to defend himself. A traffic enforcer is assigned a radar gun used to determine the speed of vehicles. To keep the peace during a riot, police officers are issued helmets and shields to protect them while they control the crowd. If the crowd becomes too unruly, the officers might be forced to use tear gas or to borrow water cannons from the fire department. But tear gas is not only used by riot police. It is actually a standard part of the arsenals assigned to a Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) officer. SWAT members are assigned more specialized weaponries for the most dangerous missions. The situations that these officers engage in are often life-threatening. They are issued bulletproof vests and night vision goggles. Members of the SWAT team do not always go directly to the front lines. If necessary, they can attack from afar using sniper rifles. Equipment does not make an officer. Using police equipment requires sufficient training, discipline, and the ability to make the right decisions in a split-second. |
