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Cop Gear

Think cop gear and what comes to mind. A badge? A gun? These are two of the most identifiable symbols of modern police, but it requires much more than a badge and a gun to outfit an officer for their job.  Police work requires things such as bullet proof vests, riot helmets and shields, tasers, and batons.

One piece of cop gear that has changed significantly over the years is the baton, or nightstick. The earliest police batons were little more than a straight, round piece of wood with a grip on one end.  In the 1800's the baton was adapted into a sap, or blackjack. A sap contains a lead weight covered in leather padding. This weight is attached to the end of a rigid coil spring, which is also wrapped in leather. The spring action of the sap amplified the force of blows, while the leather padding kept it from breaking the skin.

The sap however proved a source of serious injuries, and in modern times it has fallen out of favor. Modern cop gear has substituted side handled batons for the sap. In a side handled baton, a handle at a right angle to the baton is affixed about 6 inches from the base. This allows the baton to brace against the forearm allowing for greater force, and also providing a defensive shield to the officer's wrists.

A collapsible baton is the most recently invented piece of cop gear for hand to hand combat. It consists of a small metal head affixed to steel- or in some cases aluminum- shaft that collapses. These are ideal for modern police because they are easily concealed, yet highly effective. The spherical head provides the maximum force at the point of impact.

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