Handcuffs and Off Duty Weapon

[pointman1531]

Just curious to know if most LEO's here on this forum carry handcuffs along with your off-duty weapon?

Pros and Cons as to why or why not?

When I am carrying a firearm I carry a set of handcuff and at the minimum (1) extra magazine. I once "on-viewed" a rape in progress. Took the subject into custody and I knew holding the guy at gunpoint for more than 5 minutes would get old quite quickly...


Thanks for your input folks.

[deadcoyote]

I don't personally and don't know anybody who does. It's already a bit of a load with the pistol and the magazine, and typically a toddler under one arm.

[jksupplyco]

I carry these with me in my Backpack, which is usually with me.

http://www.tufftie.com/index.cfm

[Uhhlexxxis]

ehh, not really.. it wouldn't hurt to keep an extra set in the car but I still carry an off duty handgun and sometimes an extra mag.. depends where we're headed.

[IrishJoe3]

I carry one of these in the car...

[RedMongooSe]

try a nice set of thumb cuffs. I have two and they hurt!

[Ron-Solo]

I keep a set in my car.

[WILDMAN442]

I dont personally.

Keep a set in the truck though.

Ya never know

Justin

[CaptMike]

keep a set in the truck. Don't carry them on me. Gear tends get heavy. Pistol, mag and surefire light is enough on my person. If I ever have to draw on someone off duty, it's because someones life was in immediate danger. If the situation calls for me to draw, I am not approaching to handcuff without backup. But you never know what you may run into, that's why the cuffs are in the truck.

[TRICKSTER]

If your going to carry a gun off duty, you should carry cuffs. If you end up in a shooting and you don't carry cuffs, you can be sure that it will be argued in the civil suite that you had no intention of taking the poor victim into custody, you just planned to shoot him. Why else would you just carry a gun?

[SkyStorm82]

That'd be a pretty weak arguement...

[Roccobro]

Just curious to know if most LEO's here on this forum carry handcuffs along with your off-duty weapon?

Pros and Cons as to why or why not?

When I am carrying a firearm (which I ALWAYS do) I carry a set of handcuff and at the minimum (1) extra magazine. I once "on-viewed" a rape in progress. Took the subject into custody and I knew holding the guy at gunpoint for more than 5 minutes would get old quite quickly...


Thanks for your input folks.

Ditto. My set of aluminum hinged cuffs weigh next to nothing. Add a 1 cell flashlight and misc crap and you have my everyday pocket carry gear.

Justin

[yzErnie]

If your going to carry a gun off duty, you should carry cuffs. If you end up in a shooting and you don't carry cuffs, you can be sure that it will be argued in the civil suite that you had no intention of taking the poor victim into custody, you just planned to shoot him. Why else would you just carry a gun?

While I do agree that we probably 'should' have cuffs readily available, I don't keep them on my person. For me, concealability is the main concern and secondly, tactically I'm not convinced it would be a sound action on my part.

IMHO, the remainder of your comment, while probably valid, could easily be rebuffed in court. Without details, my dept policy regarding being armed off duty says gun and makes no mention of anything else. Complying with dept policy would be difficult for an attorney to challange and succeed.

I can safely say if I am forced to become involved in an armed encounter while off duty, I could easily justify any of my actions up to and including why I did not handcuff the violent offender I was just forced to shoot.

Well heck, maybe I'll just start carrying purse when off duty so I can have everything I'd need. Wonder if the wife has one that will match my Wranglers!!!

[BigDogatPlay]

I always kept a set in the truck, rarely did I carry a pair on my person off duty. In retrospect I think yzernie infers a good point from a tactical perspective.

[Cpl_Peters]

If your going to carry a gun off duty, you should carry cuffs. If you end up in a shooting and you don't carry cuffs, you can be sure that it will be argued in the civil suite that you had no intention of taking the poor victim into custody, you just planned to shoot him. Why else would you just carry a gun?

I dont carry cuffs and here are the reasons why. I learned very early on (about 2 months off of training) not to get involved with things off duty unless it is to save my life or someone elses life. And by that I mean, I'm pulling out the gun to shoot someone, not because I might shoot them. I got involved in an off duty gun draw situation that turned out ok but could have ended very badily and/or ended my career. I was 100% legal and justified in doing what I did and so would have any other citizen but in hind sight it would have been better to just be a good witness and call 911 and let the guys getting paid handle it.

Also like others have said it is bulky and I have enough stuff to carry. Living in socal i am a shorts and flipflops guy most of the time. My EDC is already a Kahr PM9, extra mag, cellphone, keys, and wallet. I dont have enough room for anything else.

You will get sued no matter who you shoot these days....even zombie hitler raping a baby