18 July 03

The Problem with Fanny Packs, from an LEO Friend in the Midwest:

"One of our day-shift officers (who should have retired long ago) carries a pistol a fanny pack. It is (or was) his preferred method of carrying off duty, although I don't know if he carries concealed regularly (I surely hope not!).

Yesterday, he inadvertently left his fanny pack, with loaded gun and a spare magazine, in the back seat of one of our marked beat cars. Thanks heaven, the 3-11 officer, just coming on duty, found it while doing a vehicle inspection at the beginning of his shift, just prior to spending his day transporting for probation and parole.

Our chief definitely failed to see the humor in this bit of carelessness! The officer (now suspended) has a hearing on Monday."

Lessons: A rigorous inspection of patrol vehicles at the beginning of each shift cannot be overemphasized. Many of us are far too casual with regard to this critical procedure.

Many of us, including me, use fanny packs. They are convenient to be sure. However, as with a gun in a handbag, fanny packs are a poor way to carry. The problem is, as we see from the forgoing, it is just too easy to inadvertently leave it laying around where in can be easily stolen or where we forget all about it and ultimately leave it there.

If you're going to carry concealed, the best way is where the gun out of sight and secure on your body.

/John