What equipment have you paid for yourself?

Whitewater-AGS

Ok i thought I'd start this thread after reading the no more favours one.
So what equipment have members on here paid for out of their own pocket?

Personally i've gotten
asp cuff case
asp side break holder
smaller led tourch than the one we are issued+case
long cuff key(about the same size as a pen)

source

I've bought:

Led Lenser hokus fokus torch and holder
Long asp handcuff key
Small blacklight

about to buy puncture resistant search gloves, (don't fancy getting stuck with a needle)

TheNog

- a maglite torch and a replacement led unit costing €100 (till it was nicked by a guard!!)
- also the red wand for the torch (unfortunately it arrived 2 days after my torch was nicked)
- decent pair gloves, thermal ones
- spare handcuffs
- boots
- mini maglite for searching
- windscreen wash for the patrol car (no water will just not do)

TheNog

city4life wrote: »

apply to stores for the current standard issue torch. its an LED torch and comes with a red cover too. i do stores for my division and regularly pick up a load of them

Oh aye I have that torch but think its crap. Maglites are much better, also looking at a surefire torch

FGR

city4life - I have yet to apply for gear through stores. What's the policy with regards getting down the likes of a new equipment belt? I have the approval but I don't think I'll be driving up to Dublin any time soon.

Is it that we forward the sheet to the member who does stores and they go and collect it when they're on their next trip?

donvito99

Whitewater-AGS wrote: »

Ok i thought I'd start this thread after reading the no more favours one.
So what equipment have members on here paid for out of their own pocket?

Personally i've gotten
asp cuff case
asp side break holder
smaller led tourch than the one we are issued+case
long cuff key(about the same size as a pen)

Wha?

Us civvies, we canna speaka de Garda lingo.

donvito99

donvito99 wrote: »

Wha?

Us civvies, we canna speaka de Garda lingo.

It's a holder for the ASP Baton that lets you pull the baton out to the side rather than having to open the holder and then pull out the baton.

bryanmurr

Mag lite x 2 cos some mule stole the other one.
motorbike gloves (2 pairs) cos the issued one are like oven gloves and are too hot for the "summer"
custom fit ear plugs for the bikes cos the issued disposable ones are fairly crap
magnum boots for a bit of ankle support

kwalsh000

Spare set of cuffs, after my other spare set went walkies with another mule
Asp holder, similar to the one as above
Cuff holder as the issued one lasted a couple months and gave in
Small torch as the one given crapped out after 6 months
Hygenic gel and a box of gloves as there are never any gloves when you need them, same goes for wipes on occasion (better to be safe and have em)

Eru

Numerous cuffs and torches after they developed legs and various other replacements after I lost originals but at present:

Decent ASP cuffs x 2
ASP cuff holder x 2
Needle proof gloves
mini 'Magnum' led torch
Leatherman
UV light for checking ID
Pen magnifying glass (fantastic for checking Romanian drivers licenses, etc)
Utility belt and pouches (old one went walkies and gave up on stores)

In the past I have bought boots, batteries, various crap for the cars and on several occasions even bloody pens!

eroo

Karlitosway1978 wrote: »

Decent ASP cuffs x 2
ASP cuff holder x 2
Needle proof gloves
mini 'Magnum' led torch
Leatherman
UV light for checking ID
Pen magnifying glass (fantastic for checking Romanian drivers licenses, etc)
Utility belt and pouches (old one went walkies and gave up on stores)

Obviously ye should have that as standard issue, but fair play for getting it off yer own bat! Pity more Gardai don't carry them!

Preset No.3

So would i be correct in asuming that the biggest thieves are not ur friendly scumbags but the guys and girls that you work with everyday?

TheNog

Karlitosway1978 wrote: »

Leatherman

Whats a Leatherman?

Maybe this fella

Preset No.3 wrote: »

So would i be correct in asuming that the biggest thieves are not ur friendly scumbags but the guys and girls that you work with everyday?

Pretty much. If ye have good gear than it will walk. I got fleeced on my first year. Ye get careful after that.

projectmayhem

Preset No.3 wrote: »

So would i be correct in asuming that the biggest thieves are not ur friendly scumbags but the guys and girls that you work with everyday?

I know a few Gards who said this to me themselves. I suppose just because you uphold the law doesn't make you a better person!

But even more scary from this thread (and others like it) is that emergency services' employees (servants?) have to go and buy their own stuff... surely the government should be providing this stuff?

bennyx_o

TheNog wrote: »

Whats a Leatherman?

See here. Basically, it's a multi-tool pen knife type thing

maglite

Are these really favors?

If your not happy with the issued kit that does the job and your allowed replace it. I can t see how this is a favor if the decision is based on personal preferance.

I'd love pink or black nitrle gloves ut i dont get them supplied, the standard blue work just as well adn are supplied.

I cant see this as a favour?

Relevant

maglite wrote: »

Are these really favors?

If your not happy with the issued kit that does the job and your allowed replace it. I can t see how this is a favor if the decision is based on personal preferance.

I'd love pink or black nitrle gloves ut i dont get them supplied, the standard blue work just as well adn are supplied.

I cant see this as a favour?

I wouldn't call stab proof gloves a "preference" More of a necessity imo.

Although given the amoung of people who have bought new torches i find it quite amusing that your name is Maglite!

Whitewater-AGS

maglite wrote: »

Are these really favors?

If your not happy with the issued kit that does the job and your allowed replace it. I can t see how this is a favor if the decision is based on personal preferance.

I'd love pink or black nitrle gloves ut i dont get them supplied, the standard blue work just as well adn are supplied.

I cant see this as a favour?

I've often had trouble trying to find them blue gloves in stations!!!
The same goes for pens, batteries, the station i'm based in at the min is good for keeping a supply of these things though.
As for replacing other kit like batton holders and cuff cases, this is because the ones we are given are cheap and cheerful.

We are being issued good equipment imo e.g batton, cuffs, led tourches but the accessories are of a poor standard e.g cases and duty belts.

Relevant

Actually speaking of pens.... My brother went in to the local station one day to get his passport signed. Apparently it has to be done in black. The garda didn't have a black pen, they looked around the station, couldn't find one so he was sent to get a black pen in the shop so they could sign it!

deadwood

Relevant wrote: »

Actually speaking of pens.... My brother went in to the local station one day to get his passport signed. Apparently it has to be done in black. The garda didn't have a black pen, they looked around the station, couldn't find one so he was sent to get a black pen in the shop so they could sign it!

That's fairly typical alright - but you'd be amazed at the amount of people who come in saying "you've to fill in this bit Guard and stamp these 2 photos. Oh, and don't I sign them too?"

At this point, Garda Deadwood, who always appreciates receiving instructions from well meaning citizens, hitches his trouseres up over his beer belly and notices the form filled out in blue. Asking, politely, how they managed to make up some instructions, but failed to read the first one!

Garda Deadwood then proceeds to fill out the form for them anyway.

And the parental consent page has a similar effect on, otherwise, intelligent people as Kryptonite has on Superman!

READ THE INSTRUCIONS FOLKS!

Ooh, ooh . . . back on topic . . . john wayne toilet paper!

mcguiver

Proper Boots
Mini torch
Spare cuffs
Cuff pouches
ASP pouch
Earpieces
UV lights (One large for car bag, one keyring type for carrying)

Kit bag for car
Containing:
Jump leads
Tow rope
proper first aid kit
mini fire extinguisher
Map

Waterbottle for bike
Decent combats for bike
Lights for bike

Laptop + printer due to lack of p.c. resources

and I'm sure there's more I forgot

the locust

Magnum boots - soooo comfortable! feel like runners
Long asp key
Spare asp cuffs
Rescue type knife, small folding knife non pointed with sharp serrated blade for cutting rope, seat belt etc...
Side break holster for 26'' (swopped!)
Nabbed an extra pouch (from a guy who didnt want his) to carry extra crap like hygiene gel, wipes, gloves, knife, paper etc...

I dropped my torch and the thing is bust now... so i'll be getting a new LED lenser torch but with a focus beam something like these ones
http://www.ledlenser.co.uk/Product_D_HP-Pro_P14.asp

Stay_in_Kampuchea

the locust wrote: »

I dropped my torch and the thing is bust now... so i'll be getting a new LED lenser torch but with a focus beam something like these ones
http://www.ledlenser.co.uk/Product_D_HP-Pro_P14.asp

I dropped mine, it broke, then I wolloped if the ground when I got home, Good as new. Truth.

deadwood

mcguiver wrote: »

Proper Boots
Mini torch
Spare cuffs
Cuff pouches
ASP pouch
Earpieces
UV lights (One large for car bag, one keyring type for carrying)

Kit bag for car
Containing:
Jump leads
Tow rope
proper first aid kit
mini fire extinguisher
Map

Waterbottle for bike
Decent combats for bike
Lights for bike

Laptop + printer due to lack of p.c. resources

and I'm sure there's more I forgot

Here, you'll need one of these too!

wreckless

hope this topis is not for just the gardai?

in the fireservice we have bought with the money from a fundraiser helmet torches, eLED zoom ones, fooken amazing. the issued ones are useless.

personally i have bough a leatherman too

in fairness, most of the equipment we needed is there already, maybe a bit old or dated but available. and shock, lately, more arriving and trianing too :rolleyes:

djtechnics1210

Preset No.3 wrote: »

So would i be correct in asuming that the biggest thieves are not ur friendly scumbags but the guys and girls that you work with everyday?

If they cant eat it, they'll try and steal it and if that doesn't happen members usually end up breaking it.

I have had so much stuff go missing.. I once got good old satisfaction though.
A long long time ago a pair of black s&w cuffs were taken from my equipment belt in our office. I couldn't find them anywhere..:mad:,
But then a few weeks later I observed a prisoner being brought into custody area with black s&w cuffs on him... I asked the arresting member (who had about 6 months service at the time) where he had bought/gotten the cuffs and he replied that he was issued with them leaving Templemore :rolleyes:, to which he was dually informed that such cuffs had not been issued in the college in a long time, he then challenged this saying his intake were issued with them and started to make up some stupid story, he even called out the serial number on the cuffs.......... which was....... surprise surprise the serial number of my cuffs.
I have never to this day seen someone turn white so quickly... I couldn't even get angry, i just laughed at the neck he had.

Eru

Just to clarify a point here. Most stuff is not stolen from lockers but forgotten and picked up by someone else or 'borrowed' from a locker and later returned.

For example, we operate a 'custody suite' which means prisoners and handcuffs go to the station but you dont and as you can imagine, dont make their way back to the right owner.

I dont want people thinking Gardai stealing from Gardai is rampant.

djtechnics1210

You'll always get your equipment back if its borrowed. Thankfully now that everyone has their own lockers, stuff doesn't get mislaid/borrowed anymore. Sure everyones borrowed at some stage... you get urgent call and you grab first torch, cuffs, jacket etc that you see. Iv gone to assistance calls etc that we received while on grub and have arrived at the scene only to see that the driver/observer was wearing my jacket and that Im wearing theirs.
It was the numbers on the shoulders that gave it away i think

Preset No.3

Karlitosway1978 wrote: »

I dont want people thinking Gardai stealing from Gardai is rampant.

Well from what i can tell by this thread it is! From talking to friends of mine it is! Its ok, i dont expect members to be perfect and holier than me, just realistic.

Eru

djtechnics1210 wrote: »

You'll always get your equipment back if its borrowed. Thankfully now that everyone has their own lockers, stuff doesn't get mislaid/borrowed anymore. Sure everyones borrowed at some stage... you get urgent call and you grab first torch, cuffs, jacket etc that you see. Iv gone to assistance calls etc that we received while on grub and have arrived at the scene only to see that the driver/observer was wearing my jacket and that Im wearing theirs.
It was the numbers on the shoulders that gave it away i think

My zip broke just as I was heading out of the station to court once, had to borrow a pair of trousers! Have a full change of uniform in the locker now

eroo

Karlitosway1978 wrote: »

My zip broke just as I was heading out of the station to court once, had to borrow a pair of trousers!

<insert smart deadwood comment here>

deadwood

eroo wrote: »

<insert smart deadwood comment here>

Wait for it.........................waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaait for iiiiiiiiiiiiiit!

Jay112

Well lads, Anyone know where I can get a decent Leather Handcuff pouch? cheers

foxtrot-oscar

Ebay is always well worth a look for stuff like that

gdamedic

foreign wrote: »

It's a holder for the ASP Baton that lets you pull the baton out to the side rather than having to open the holder and then pull out the baton.

Any idea where one of these could be gotten?

metman

gdamedic wrote: »

Any idea where one of these could be gotten?

Take a look here.

sdanseo

Do these places ask for Garda/Police ID when purchasing? I presume not just anyone is able to buy police handcuffs or an ASP etc and have it delivered (outside USA maybe)...obviously holders etc are a different matter.

metman

Anyone can buy handcuffs as they are not classed as an offensive weapon. Buying batons is a different matter and most stockists in the UK won't sell to individuals, or if they do they will only ship to a police station.

Whitewater-AGS

Your better off getting the asp holder from the uk or if ya know someone in the states get them to ship it over. They do sell them in dublin but they over charge.

deadwood

Jay112 wrote: »

Well lads, Anyone know where I can get a decent Leather Handcuff pouch? cheers

Here:
http://www.bdsmstore.com/productcart/pc/cat34.asp

gdamedic

thanks metman

eroo

deadwood wrote: »

Here:
http://www.bdsmstore.com/productcart/pc/cat34.asp

Community Policing at it's best..get involved in your community(no matter what they're upto)!

metman

An item of kit that I bought a few years back that I've really got value for money from is my Surefire torch. Searching for suspects in woodland, pending arrival of ASU, Surefire is the next best thing. Can't recommend this piece of kit enough.

ScubaDave

Is there really much difference between the surefire and LED lenser torches?

I have the LED Lenser small torch and its fantastic!

metman

I have never used a LED lenser, but a mate of mine has one and there's no comparison. I got a good deal on my surefire (£26 quid with police discount) and its output is 120 lumens. Its the brightest torch I've seen, with the exception of our vehicle charged dragonlights.....and its also handy for directing air support!

I should be on commission but it is the mutts nuts of torches.

TheNog

metman wrote: »

I got a good deal on my surefire (£26 quid with police discount) and its output is 120 lumens. Its the brightest torch I've seen, with the exception of our vehicle charged dragonlights.....and its also handy for directing air support!

I should be on commission

Spammer??

Which Surefire you got?

lisaloo

Where are the best shops to buy all the extra stuff needed? Dublin Galway etc?????

Whitewater-AGS

Dont buy it here, its all way over priced! Best place to get stuff is the states but most sites wont see outside the U.S so unless your visiting or got family there your snookered. Some of the english sites aint bad just google what ever your looking for.