Foreign LEOs

[kimber_ss]

Throw down gun sounds like an ill description for a "backup" pistol or a "bug". If there were that many on the job with immoral mindsets, I'm sure it would be common knowledge. But that does not ring true.

[BigDogatPlay]

I'd echo the call of shenanigans on the number of "throw down guns". After all, how many officers are going to tell another officer in a training rotation that they plan to commit multiple felonies? Even if the other officer is from a different land?

Back up gun does not equal throw down. Maybe they were having fun with the constable or he's just confused.

[me109g4]

I will have to ask him,like i said the percentage he quoted just seemed implausable. Personally i would hope a lot more than 30% carried a back up piece.

[1-M-42]

32 years on, never seen a single "throw down" gun. I have seen several "unseasoned" officers with back ups in five or six locations on their persons....they'd clank when they walked into briefing...

[me109g4]

well i have been trying to talk to him about this but friends have informed me he is in hospital,and at least for now out of reach. But i would like this put to rest.

[tanksoldier]

In 32+ years of LE in the Los Angeles area

The REPUTATION for throw downs is more in the east... NYPD, Chicago, Baltimore, etc... and a few decades in the past.

How prevalent is actually was is a matter for debate, but the only two retired eastern police officers I know personally (One NY , one Philadelphia) both claim to have carried throw downs. Not so much to plant on a suspect, but to cover themselves in the event of a bad shoot. That's why it's called a "throw down". You throw it under the body.

The NY officer I know claims to have investigated an OIS where 4 guns were found under the subject's body.

I do know that policy in some departments forbidding backup guns was partially based on preventing an officer from having a throw down available.

Qualifying with and having an armorer examine any gun carried on duty has part of it's genesis in preventing throw downs as well.

A throw down can't just be your backup. It has to be a gun nobody has, or will admit, seeing you with and it has to not be traceable back to the officer.

In the old days carrying a throw down was relatively easy, not so much in the current era.

In the modern era I suspect the UK officer was confusing a BUG with a throw down, or the guys were BSing him.

[CaptMike]

13 years in law enforcement and have never heard a whisper about a "throw down" gun. I have spent lots of time with officers from other departments as well and same thing, never a whisper. Law enforcement may have its bad apples, but that is not the norm. when the rotten apples are found, they get thrown in the trash (prison). bad officers are a very small percentage of the hundreds of thousands of officers that are out their every day helping the community in a positive way. I think your friend was confused about what he saw and you beliving that this is a common thing are gravely mistaken.

[Ron-Solo]

[Mr310]

I got to see some of the guns they took off of gang members out here. There were some BHPs, a lot of Chinese and Russian guns, Korean ones, and some older Glocks. Sad that thy couldn't find nicer homes.

[Che762x39]

an aquaintance of mine who was a Constable in Northern England had a chance to cross train with LAPD several yrs. back, he enjoyed the "brisker" pace of the Dept. him coming from a quiet english county police force, but one thing that shocked him was the number of officers who had "throw down guns",, by his estimate between 30 to 40 percent. He didnt like the fact that this was used against suspects especially he said most of them were so dumb they managed to talk themselves into trouble,,, he is very much an old school officer who believes that if he cant get them legally this time he will get them next time. Personally i am scepticle of that percentage, but i have no way to verify,,

I got to call b.s. on that story

[Che762x39]

In the USMC Military Police I got to train with a lot of foreign cops. As a civilian cop here, usually foreign cops are executives or management rank and they just really observe.

When we talk about training issues, CA cops is tactically way more advance than other areas in the US JMHO.