The
most visible piece of law enforcement equipment is the firearm. Most
police officers wear a pistol in a side holster that is visible on the
outside of the uniform. Police officers have a special duty that allows
for the use of deadly force in extreme situations. It is not only used
for self defense, but even more importantly the preventative protection
of civilians and other officers of the law. Each officer goes through
intense training on when it is necessary to use deadly force, and reviews
are always made after deadly force is used to ensure that it was justified.
Although the firearm is the most visible piece of law enforcement equipment,
the two-way radio is the most important. The radio allows police officers
a direct connection to their station, allowing dispatch officers to
direct them to emergency situations and crimes in progress. Having a
connected police force is vital to responding quickly when needed, allowing
police to be out on the street in various locations, and visible to
the public for crime prevention but able to respond to calls, which
is often where most crimes and emergency situations are reported first.
Without a quick way to respond, law enforcement equipment is useless.
A patrol car allows the police to get to scenes very quickly aided by
lights and sirens to direct people out of the way. Most patrol cars
have radios built in as well, and newer ones have wireless connections
for the Internet, allowing on-board computers and the ability to check
criminal backgrounds, weather reports and road availability which all
aid in policing a city or town. Police cruisers are built to higher
standards than the civilian counterpart, to take an increased amount
of wear and abuse.