Can LEO's have automatic knives?

[retired]

I've never seen a LEO carrying a sap or blackjack. What jurisdiction have you seen these carried by if you don't mind?
Justin

I can't talk about now since I'm retired and have been for 7yrs., but when I hired on in 1976, we were all issued a sap, tho not a very good one. It was thin and real springy, which was the main reason not many liked it. It could bounce back and hit you.

A lot of deputies bought the Gonzalez 245 sap and it fit perfectly in the flashlight pocket of our pants.

I know at one point, while I was off injured, the dept. had everyone turn in the issued sap. As far as policy now in carrying one, I can't answer that. Perhaps Ron-Solo or topgun can.

[JoeFaz]

I can't talk about now since I'm retired and have been for 7yrs., but when I hired on in 1976, we were all issued a sap, tho not a very good one. It was thin and real springy, which was the main reason not many liked it. It could bounce back and hit you.

A lot of deputies bought the Gonzalez 245 sap and it fit perfectly in the flashlight pocket of our pants.

I know at one point, while I was off injured, the dept. had everyone turn in the issued sap. As far as policy now in carrying one, I can't answer that. Perhaps Ron-Solo or topgun can.

I'm from your same era, retired guy. (Though not yet retired, unfortunately). We were originally issued short nylon "billy clubs". You could bounce them off the ground right back into your hand if you did it just right, LOL! Then we went to the leather saps with a chunk of lead inside. I still have mine hanging in my garage!

[Jwood562]

a few angencies is southern ca still use saps. I believe OC and LASO sherifss still carry them, Well the OC academy store still sells them, Long Beach PD for sure still carrys them

[JoeFaz]

a few angencies is southern ca still use saps. I believe OC and LASO sherifss still carry them, Well the OC academy store still sells them, Long Beach PD for sure still carrys them

I would guess it's mostly Sheriff's agencies which carry them because they can be an effective tool in a jail setting.

[Trigger Finger]

When I went through the LAPD academy in 1974 they taught a one day class on approved use of the sap. I remember that LASD carried the big "Beaver Tail" sap but we could not. What does the stupid Ca law say about collapsible batons?

[retired]

I would guess it's mostly Sheriff's agencies which carry them because they can be an effective tool in a jail setting.

Negative; at least they were not carried in the jail while I was there as a sgt. from 1997 thru the early 2000. The deputies/custody assistants carried cuffs, OC, radio and flashlight; no saps.

Thing may have changed since then but I doubt it, since that is the way it was when I hired on in 1976 and worked Men's Central Jail (worked there as a sgt. also). AfAIK, they have never been permitted.

[Jwood562]

yeah I am not sure about the deputies who work custody but the guys on the streets carry/used to carry them

[JoeFaz]

Negative; at least they were not carried in the jail while I was there as a sgt. from 1997 thru the early 2000. The deputies/custody assistants carried cuffs, OC, radio and flashlight; no saps.

Thing may have changed since then but I doubt it, since that is the way it was when I hired on in 1976 and worked Men's Central Jail (worked there as a sgt. also). AfAIK, they have never been permitted.

I can tell you first hand that two county jails in the Bay Area carried them from 1976 until at least 1981 which is the last year I worked custody. One county issued the nylon clubs, the other allowed them or saps, your choice. I doubt any agency carries them in custody now, though.

[retired]

I can tell you first hand that two county jails in the Bay Area carried them from 1976 until at least 1981 which is the last year I worked custody. One county issued the nylon clubs, the other allowed them or saps, your choice. I doubt any agency carries them in custody now, though.

I probably should have said, you were probably right about it being mostly Sheriff's agencies that would carry them since they run the larger jails within each county. I was just mentioning mine didn't. Obviously where you worked, they did. Different depts., different policies. It would have been nice to have had in some instances.