REMEMBER WHEN ----->

[SoCalDep]

I don't have the "experience" of many here, but my perspective might be amusing to some...

1. Revolvers

My first backup revolver was originally purchased by another recruit in my academy. She wasn't the best runner and ended up being injured (later we found it was quite likely the beginning of her Multiple Sclerosis but...) so she didn't complete the academy. After I graduated, I traded a Para Ordnance P16Ltd because she wanted a "range" gun and I wanted a backup. We started dating about six months later and we've been married for over 12 years. When I originally qualified with that S&W 342PD, it was at 25 yards with 30rds of 130gr +P ammo (OUCH!). I found out several years later that it wasn't my lack of talent with a revolver that made it so hard to shoot... The barrel shroud (and front sight) was canted slightly. It has since been fixed by S&W and had some work done by one of our retired BC guys who has great talent with a revolver... and it will never be sold... even though it hurts every time I pull the trigger (sometimes more than others)!




2. Break Front or Clam Shell Holsters

Nope... My first holster was a Safariland 280S (LASD special) for a Beretta 92FS.


3. Posse Boxes

I still used one when I left patrol in 2011.


4. Actually Hand Writing a Citation or Report

Did that until I left patrol in 2011, but if it was a long report I (usually) typed the narrative.


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

Nope. PR-24 issued but never really carried. I used an ASP and sap.


6. Using your Sap Pocket to Carry your SAP!

Yep... But it was the re-issue version from a guy in Idaho that they started selling at the emporium. I always wanted one so I jumped at the chance when they became available. Still have it in my locker at work.


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

Nope, but I'll be able to reminisce about when Meth was a Felony.


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

When I went to patrol, there was maybe one or two guys that had GPS units. I learned on a Thomas Bros, and even after I was off training and a bunch of guys had purchased GPS units, I stuck with the book... It came in handy a few times when the location wasn't in the GPS database and I had a conga-line of cars behind me because I actually knew how to look it up. I eventually broke down and got one, mainly because you could change the "car" to be a patrol car. That old GPS is still in the center console of my POV but I don't know if it even works.


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

I'm a square when it comes to this. No fun stories. I have had the opportunity to go some great places on duty though.

Things that have changed for me:

We no longer issue the Beretta... Now it's an M&P with night sights and a WML.
We no longer use the old Ithaca shotgun... Now it's an 870 with tactical "stuff".
We no longer use an MDT... It's an MDC and I don't even have a login code...
Patrol rifles now have not only optics (well... not for the moment), but a light, tactical sling, and they are 14.5" M4LEs instead of old surplus M16s converted to semi-auto.

Many cops now apparently drive SUVs... I had one often but it looked like this...

[CapnHawk]

"Widowmaker" holsters (full flap military style)

Dump boxes (no speedloaders)

No light bar - just a red spotlight on the driver's side

[Samuelx]

I remember when things on my department were better and I was planning on retiring well after 30+ years. Sad to say, things are really crappy now and I'm looking at leaving as soon as I hit 25 - and this is even after considering that I have my dream LE job and I love what I do (most days). I could make a list but I'm sure I'd get fanged for badmouthing the department (even though everything I'd list is the truth, at least in my experience as a peon). Instead of fixing what appears to me to be a widespread morale problem (righteous, IMO), the department came out with a policy basically against public complaints/negative commentary. Sorry to be a downer to this thread!

[SDDAVE56]

Correction fluid. Hand writing reports using that green plastic template, with the different size lines. Kel Lights.

[LtJim]

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."

OMG This is way too funny!!!! Things like this happened all the time!!! The sense of humor of a Police Officer working Graveyard shift was better than any Kevin Hart, Will Farrell, or any other Comedian !!

During my first week in FTO program--(back then passing the FTO program meant knowing the City Map) I remember watching the Verbal Skills test for for a DUI Investigation -Slauson/Alameda--Border of the Projects--->
Final question for the Suspect: "Is Mickey Mouse--A Dog or a Cat?"

[SVT-40]

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 ---->

Was issued a S&W M59 ..
Later carried a nickle plated M-39 in a Tex Shoemaker "Quick front" holster.

Carried my academy brief case up until some smart guy invented the Posse box.
Used my Posse box up to the day I retired in 2006. Gave it to my wife, who was still working...She handed it down to another, when she retired in 2011

As for reports, hand wrote all reports during probation, then could used a tape recorder for narratives...

I do remember carrying pieces of carbon paper to use while filling out CHP-180's and 5150's so you didn't have to fill the form out twice.

Carried a PR-24 up to the time we went to collapsible's...

SAP!!!


I remember making (Frank) seed 10-15's.. I also remember the first day smoking MJ became a infraction....Issued a bunch of cites to a group of local idiots who though we couldn't..

TB maps were your friend. When working surveillance I had copies of just about every county in the state... Visited most of them.

We had call boxes located throughout town, which had a direct phone to the station.

The farthest I ever got out of my area was for a code 7 hook up on early mornings...about 15 miles out of town... Very dumb thing to do...


I also remember being on the street W/O a portable radio, and having to wear our hats whenever we were out of our cars...

I also remember being comfortable in uniform before body armor became available...

Eating In & Out's off the trunk of your unit (Cops dining table) while enjoying a cool summer night and flirting with all the young, and not so young ladies....

[micro911]

I was issued a S&W model 67 with 2 speed loaders. I had my own Hoyt holster. Used a PR-24.

I remember the time when there was no portable radio, so when you leave the car, you kind of volume up PA speaker to hear the radio communication. Maybe that is why they called it radio car.

[scadvice]

Oh man I'm old...

38 special (10-2 I think)

18 rounds only

Bucheimer Clark holster

Never heard of a speed loader…what great idea!

63’ Ford interceptor but that was the chief’s we had pickups and 60’ fords

Billy Club 24” with leather strap in front of the handle. Which we could actually use!

3 page ticket pad that you had to move the carbon copy sheet

Flashlights? You got flashlights?

The chief had the PA system not us and it had tubes!

Our radio’s had tubes too.

Printed maps only…what is GPS???

Pager? What’s a pager?

Kevlar vest hadn’t been invented yet…

Ties…most of us bought clip-ons so the BG couldn’t grab them.

The desk sergeant did have a typewriter and carbon paper…whiteout was a lifesaver.

What? You can’t flirt with the ladies anymore!?

And finally…the BG never called you anything but “sir”…

[CT-Copper]

Reloadable Mark V Smith & Wesson CN Mace dispencer.

Combo Mace/Baton with the Mace in the handle of the polycarbonate baton

Polycarbonate batons with the "rib spreader" steel ball on the end

12" short Day Billies

Swivel holsters

Super Vel ammo

Saddle style handcuff pouch

Bullet Loops and dump pouches before Speedloaders

Ballistic clipboards

And a few things that seemed bigger on the East Coast:

The Iron Claw

As pictured above, the round springy blackjack over the flat sap. Most Depts. back east issued the round blackjack, but some guys bought the flat sap because it was more comfortable to sit on in your sap pocket

Sadly, the Posse Box is no longer being made. I guess the younger guys prefer the "patrol bags" and they weren't selling anymore.

[DEVOREGUNNER]

Kel Lite flashlight and a box of D cell batteries.
Change of clothes or two in case ya rolled around in the dirt.
Basket weave break front Sam Brown gear any color as long as it was black.

[yzErnie]

Hoyt Holsters

Gumballs for overheads

Using your .357mag duty ammo as ear protection when qualifying because they didn't give us ear muffs at the range

100 Octane leaded premium

Goodyear Blue Streak "Police Radials"

[OLDLEORET]

Well, this is something that probably only LAPD cops would know about, but does anyone else remember the old blue backed AB Dick memo paper. It had a coating on the front so if you erased too hard it would mess up the whole thing and you had to rewrite the whole report. That was before photocopy machines. And yes, the ticket books had carbon paper, so when the wind was blowing it was all but impossible to write the citation without screwing it up. And yes, so far I remember it all. Guess that makes me the winner!!
Except of course for the hearing loss from the bullets for hearing protector; the hip replacement from wearing the Sam Brown belt and the bad back from years of radio cars, motors, etc. Oh well, it was fun while it lasted.

[LtJim]

Well, this is something that probably only LAPD cops would know about, but does anyone else remember the old blue backed AB Dick memo paper. It had a coating on the front so if you erased too hard it would mess up the whole thing and you had to rewrite the whole report. That was before photocopy machines. And yes, the ticket books had carbon paper, so when the wind was blowing it was all but impossible to write the citation without screwing it up. And yes, so far I remember it all. Guess that makes me the winner!!
Except of course for the hearing loss from the bullets for hearing protector; the hip replacement from wearing the Sam Brown belt and the bad back from years of radio cars, motors, etc. Oh well, it was fun while it lasted.

Tip of the Big Black Stetson to ya Sir! Thats some history! Back then the Detectives even wore Hats when they left "Headquarters" (Thats before Parker Center!)

I was also wondering why none of you Old Timers failed to mention

1. Mustaches
2. Aviator Sunglasses

I think they must have also been banned by Prop 47 - None of the Current LEOs seem to use these two valuable pieces of equipment.

[OLDLEORET]

That would be mirrored aviator sunglasses, so the suspects couldn't see your eyes. And sideburns. Ours couldn't extend past the bottom of the ears. Now I have long ears so my sideburns could go basically to the end of my face. I had a partner though, who had little bitty ears set way up high on his head. He gripped about that constantly. Ah yes, I remember it well. Don't remember what I had for breakfast, but I remember the length of my partners ears. LOL

[roostersgt]

Growler? instead of modern siren?