REMEMBER WHEN ----->

[LtJim]

OK old timers -- Time to Shake Up this Forum just a bit and have some fun. Feel free to add in a couple of the "Remember Whens" from your time on the job. I'm sure its a tad bit different than today.

I'll start with a few and see where this thread goes.


1. Revolvers

2. Break Front or Clam Shell Holsters

3. Posse Boxes

4. Actually Hand Writing a Citation or Report

5. 24" 2nd Growth Hickory w/Rubber Grommet Straight Stick

6. Using your Sap Pocket to Carry your SAP!

7. When 11357 H&S for a "Roach" or "Seeds" was a Felony

8. "Thomas Bros." was just as important as GPS is today

9. How far out of your Beat you went on duty W/O authorization (Poloroid Required)

OK Gang---Take it away ---->

[1CavScout]

OK old timers -- Time to Shake Up this Forum just a bit and have some fun. Feel free to add in a couple of the "Remember Whens" from your time on the job. I'm sure its a tad bit different than today.

I'll start with a few and see where this thread goes.


1. Revolvers

2. Break Front or Clam Shell Holsters

3. Posse Boxes

4. Actually Hand Writing a Citation or Report

5. 24" 2nd Growth Hickory w/Rubber Grommet Straight Stick

6. Using your Sap Pocket to Carry your SAP!

7. When 11357 H&S for a "Roach" or "Seeds" was a Felony

8. "Thomas Bros." was just as important as GPS is today

9. How far out of your Beat you went on duty W/O authorization (Poloroid Required)

OK Gang---Take it away ---->

My first gun I was issued was a revolver. I was assigned to the jails at the time though, so I never really carried it on the streets (except for transports).

I had a Posse box, but used a cheap clipboard mostly. The posse box stayed in the trunk most of the time.

We were required to hand write reports during our initial training phase, and were allowed to use word processors after that.

We had no workable GPS when I was in patrol. You could see where you where at (and where you partners were), but it updated so slowly it was not usable for navigation. I was surprised at how many of my trainees could not read a map when they first got into my training car.

I still have a couple saps that I carried. Useful tool for non-compliant persons.

How far off the beat? Some of the old timers told me of runs to Vegas and claim to have taken pics in front of casinos on the strip. Sounds crazy coming from SoCal (near the coast), but I believe these guys. Once GPS was put into the cars, lying to dispatchers about your location was a thing of the past.

[DaveInOroValley]

When we had a beat officer walking our streets

When getting a meal or a bottle of liquor was considered a perk and not a crime.

[LtJim]

You didnt list any of your "Remember Whens" Cav---Statute of limitations are expired!!! We bet you have a couple

Vegas by the way--- True Story!! Ive seen photos!!

[DEPUTYBILL]

No radio on your belt. Only had the car radio.
Being required to have dimes on your person in case you needed to use a pay phone.
If you were outside, you wear your hat.(also handy for holding picked fruit :cherries, grapes)
If you were in long sleeve shirt, or wearing a jacket, you had to have a tie.
Patrol cars had 440 v-8's in them.

[1CavScout]

You didnt list any of your "Remember Whens" Cav---Statute of limitations are expired!!! We bet you have a couple

Vegas by the way--- True Story!! Ive seen photos!!

I have told some of my old beat partners that I could write a book, but would have to use fake names.

How about using actual ink to roll prints?

Pagers instead of cell phones for call outs.

No less lethal. Shotgun, handgun and a flashlight (and a straight stick in the car) were what you went 10-8 with.

Some of you guys are a little older than me, so you have some more extreme examples of how primitive it was.

[oddjob]

Using a suspect as shield to walk up and clear a car. That was taught at the academy. S&W 39's & 59's were the "in" toys.
Mace
Plastic cuffs/zip ties didn't exist
We were not issued kevlar vests.
Tuffy jackets was the only jacket we could wear.
1/2 price meals were unofficially ok.
Kel-Lights
75% was topped out for retirement
SAPS were actually ok to use.
Videos didn't exist.

[1G75]

Way back when...

*Model 15 with speedloaders

*lead pencils with erasers in posse box

*straight sticks and full size Mag-lite

*bump-starting a KZ1000P after leaving the strobes on too long on a T/stop

it goes on and on and on

[glennbtw]

Slowly cruising the streets of downtown on Mids in 1970 Plymouth with dual exhaust and glasspaks, the rumble of the engine reverberating off the walls of the closed businesses.
Flipping the lid on the air cleaner cause you thought it gave the engine more power. Hearing those engines come to life all over downtown if you called for a fill.
Trying to remember to flip the lid back over before you went OD that morning so the garage guys didn't get too upset.

[Ron-Solo]

Actually using a Police "Call Box" to contact the station.

[OLDLEORET]

OK old timers -- Time to Shake Up this Forum just a bit and have some fun. Feel free to add in a couple of the "Remember Whens" from your time on the job. I'm sure its a tad bit different than today.

I'll start with a few and see where this thread goes.


1. Revolvers
Yes - S&W .357 6 inch that I had to pay for myself

2. Break Front or Clam Shell Holsters
You bet. Best holster made. Hard to get for a left handed 6in though.

3. Posse Boxes
Nope - leather brief case

4. Actually Hand Writing a Citation or Report
They don"t still do that? I'll be damned.


5. 24" 2nd Growth Hickory w/Rubber Grommet Straight Stick
No rubber grommet. It had a leather thong. I could spin it too.

6. Using your Sap Pocket to Carry your SAP!
Yep. Spring loaded one.

7. When 11357 H&S for a "Roach" or "Seeds" was a Felony
And once the scrapings off the suspects teeth when he swallowed the joint.

8. "Thomas Bros." was just as important as GPS is today
Oh hell yes.

9. How far out of your Beat you went on duty W/O authorization (Poloroid Required)
I to have seen the Vegas pictures.

OK Gang---Take it away ---->

You have a good memory LT Jim. That's my name and rank too by the way.

[OLDLEORET]

Actually using a Police "Call Box" to contact the station.

Ron,
I worked LAPD motors. We had to call off duty from call boxes on the beat. You gave a box number and they had a list of where the boxes were. Sometimes we had to race like crazy to get back to that box from where we actually were (like sitting at home) if the Sgt said wait there so he could meet you. I almost forgot that stunt.

[Ron-Solo]

Ron,
I worked LAPD motors. We had to call off duty from call boxes on the beat. You gave a box number and they had a list of where the boxes were. Sometimes we had to race like crazy to get back to that box from where we actually were (like sitting at home) if the Sgt said wait there so he could meet you. I almost forgot that stunt.

With LASD we had "phone spots" where the desk had the phone number. You'd go "code 6 at location 32" and they'd call you there.

With the PD I was with, we had several call boxes throughout the city. You were issued a key and once the box was open, there was a phone connected to the city phone system to make calls.

[OLDLEORET]

Ok, how about this you old guys. Do you remember when the sirens weren't electronic and the vehicle had to be moving before it would make noise. Remember that? I remember when we got the electronic sirens. The units also had a PA system. Two coppers in 77 Division got days off for driving through the projects announcing "You are ordered to evacuate immediately. The Martians have landed in the Harbor Division."

[Clutch-n-Throttle]

Polaroids! No such thing as digital cameras and cell phones. A top of the line digital 1MP camera sold for over $1000 back in the late 90's.