Is a patrol rifle highly recommended?

[RolinThundr]

I am hoping soon to begin a LE career and have been thinking quite a bit about whether or not I should purchase a patrol rifle (AR). I'd like to get the opinions of the LEOs here- is a patrol rifle highly recommended as an additional option/tool or is it just getting more popular?

[BigDogatPlay]

Its a terrific force option to have and one I would not be without if I was still working and my agency allowed it.

Any rifle you buy now would have to be featureless or magazine locked. While featureless would certainly get the job done, the trade offs in ergonomics do not always translate well to a fighting weapon. Also, taking a featureless gun and turning it into a registered AW later is (it's been said in this forum) more of a PITA than it's worth.

If you are serious about a career in LE, you could buy a rifle now, but you'll wind up buying another one, or being issued one, after you are sworn that you would actually use on duty.

[WILDMAN442]

Probably better off for you to wait boss.

A lot of agencies issue them or at least authorize officers to purchase them

Justin

[Average Joe American]

My agency only allows our rural guys to carry them for some reason? Most of the townies dont get the option. A few do but not every single officer in town though. It doesnt make sense to me since there are lessons to be learned with the North Hollywood shootout. With the recession, foreclosures, business's failing, high layoffs/unemployment...crime always goes up. We just had several armored car hold ups and bank robberies in a very short time. And a deadly shootout at the Federal Court House...AR's would be welcomed. Any brand.

[alex00]

My agency only allows our rural guys to carry them for some reason? Most of the townies dont get the option. A few do but not every single officer in town though. It doesnt make sense to me since there are lessons to be learned with the North Hollywood shootout. With the recession, foreclosures, business's failing, high layoffs/unemployment...crime always goes up. We just had several armored car hold ups and bank robberies in a very short time. And a deadly shootout at the Federal Court House...AR's would be welcomed. Any brand.

My agency was like that in the early days of our Patrol Rifle program. Only certain officers could carry one, and a form was filled out everytime it was taken out of the trunk. Fast forward a few years, and every car has a rack between the seats, and there is no special criteria for deployment. If the officer feels the rifle is a good tool for the call, they can deploy it without any issues. I personally think that departments that don't acknowledge a need for a rifle in an urban setting are doing a huge disservice to the community and their officers.

To the OP, get an OLL now for fun, and when you get the go ahead from a future employer buy the drop mag evil gun. Like others have said, you will be issued a rifle or given a letter to buy one. There are many different policies throughout the state, and if you bought a rife now, you may not be able to carry it at work. Plus you would have to go through the process of converting it to an "AW", something you legally cannot do yourself.

[MIB]

Probably better off for you to wait boss.

A lot of agencies issue them or at least authorize officers to purchase them

Justin

+1,....also the weapon you buy might not be approved/authorized by your agency and you'd spend you money twice to buy what's approved.

[Unit74]

+1,....also the weapon you buy might not be approved/authorized by your agency and you'd spend you money twice to buy what's approved.

+2


Wait and see what you they will give/authorize first.


But, if your looking to practice and plan on buying one anyway, buy a used gun off the classifieds.

[tyrist]

It has it's uses but don't buy one now because you don't even know what is authorized for whatever agency you end up with.

[nobody33]

I would not work for a department that did not let me carry one.

[556fmj]

I would wait until you get hired and past probation before you get a rifle. It should not be your priority at the moment. Also as the others have said, your department general orders may be very specific as what kind, model, etc.

[1911su16b870]

Old tac sayings:

A handgun is portable, concealable and can save your life
A shotgun is speed and power
A rifle is power and accuracy (and a lot of rounds)

After Hollywood and with the post 9/11 paradigm, IMO every agency and officer should have access to a rifle in their unit. Every different department will have to have a policy and training for the issuance of a patrol rifle.

[Jonathan Doe]

LASD had AR-15's for a LONG time, although they needed watch commander's (LT or higher) approval to deploy the rifle. Mountain cars and resident deputies carried the rifle in their cars. I was certified and carried an AR-15 during the 1992 riot.

[djslick75]

Get hired first!

[bluestaterebel]

Get hired first!

+1!

[RolinThundr]

Thanks everyone! Since I don't know yet where I may be working I was merely inquiring now for later, besides, have no money now to buy one. I was figuring on finishing my field training before purchasing- right now I was just wondering if I should make it a serious goal to save up for one once I got hired.