Is a patrol rifle highly recommended?

[Jwood562]

They are a great tool to have. I love breaking out my personal rifle on duty, knowing that it is set to my specs and I am very comfortable shooting it.

BUT as everyone else said, wait.... if you havent even begun your career you are probably a few years at least from being able to carry your patrol rifle. Plus when you are able to buy one you a get a department letter head and can buy any AW you want (agency permitting of course).

focus on getting hired, pasing the academy, passing training then all the other aspects of your career will come in to play.

Good luck and we hope to hear good news from you soon

[till44]

I say by now and get familiar with the ergonomic and controls of the gun. Install a BB to be legal but learn to shoot the gun, handle malfunctions/reloads, and basic maintnance. You're trainers, academy, and range masters will be greatful. Just be ready to change your technique and fix a few training scars when learning from them.

[fegves2id]

I responded to a suspect discharging a firearm into the air from his balcony. We had prior knowledge of this person, due to his mental instability (he was a MARINE who had PTSD). We also knew he had possession of military type body armor (SAPI plates and carriers).

I had not attended the patrol rifle qualification class yet, and had only a shotgun with buckshot and my .45 sidearm. Sitting at the end of the block, on the perimeter, I felt naked. The distances from which he would be able to engage my position, would leave me helpless to return fire effectively. After loading my personally bought 1oz slugs, I felt a little better.

In short, a patrol rifle is a necessity IMHO. Officers who are not allowed to have access to them, should be actively trying to change department policy.

Note: in the above-mentioned scenario, after SWAT finally resolved the situation, we found out the suspect had been watching us with his night vision optics while we were locking down the neighborhood. We were all creeped out, to say the least. Having participated in more than one ambush while in the Infantry, I realized how easy it would be to ambush LEOs. Like shooting...fish in a bucket, if that is the right saying.

GET A RIFLE. Better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it.

[Jonathan Doe]

I know some agencies issue their officers pistol caliber rifles. I do not agree with that. They should carry rifle caliber rifles. My pistol can do pretty much what pistol caliber rifles can do.

[franco802]

Like someone else in here said, "get hired first!". Definitely do not ask or bring up anything about guns at an interview or you will automatically be disqualified.

If you want to have your own bb AR and have fun, practice with it, that's fine. When the time arises and the agency that hires you won't issue you one, then maybe if yours is approved, the agency will let you register it. After you have taken the agency AR class of course.