Detectives, Off-Duty Cops and I.D.
By Rocky Warren Sgt. (ret)
With the passage of H.R. 218 allowing peace officers to carry their weapons in all 50 states, the identification of “friend or foe� is going to become more of an issue. Every officer can recount incidents of “blue on blue� friendly-fire casualties. It’s every officer’s worst nightmare.
Understand that plain-clothes officers, whatever their capacity, should comply with the commands of uniformed officers. That uniform has no idea who you are unless they’re staring at your ID or they know you. Even then, low-light or adrenaline stress may make things very dicey for the officers involved in the situation. If you’re plain-clothes there’s just one simple rule: Don’t shout back. Don’t wave your hands, your wallet or your cell phone around. Don’t turn. Just do the smart thing. Obey the uniforms! Do what they tell you. If it’s drop the gun? File a claim form to get the darned thing re-blued. It’s not worth your well being or life to argue.
When you’re working in plain-clothes or off-duty, you most definitely want to be able to identify yourself to uniformed officers. “Serpico� style chains worn around the neck are not a good idea. Have you ever run with a chain and badge around your neck? It beats you to death! Your extended arms will cover the badge when you hold a gun. Enough officers have been shot with their badges on their belts to prove that wearing it there almost guarantees it won’t be seen. Holding your ID folder or belt badge clip takes complete use of your support hand. If you have to open a door, hold a flashlight or take a physical control on someone, you stand a good chance of losing your badge and wallet, or being unable to do the technique needed.
Nearly twenty-five years ago, I heard an instructor say they put a shoestring or a leather shoe lace on a badge case and looped it over their finger. Unfortunately, when you do that, the badge twists and turns backward frequently. Not a good solution. With a little tinkering, I’ve been using and improving “The Survival Strap� for about 20 plus years. We all know that the eyes are drawn to the area of the gun. Why not put your badge right below your gun and where everyone is more certain to see it?
The Survival Strap gives the user the ability to identify to front, rear or both sides and each is a non-threatening very low-key motion. Again, if the officer demands I drop my gun, it’s going to hit the ground. But if I can present the badge prior to the officer’s arrival, in a unique manner of presentation, there’s a better chance the officer will see it.
The survival strap also gives options for looping the strap over the index finger, palming the badge, hiding it from casual view and then flipping it over the top of the hand. Or you can loop it over the little finger and palm the badge facing toward you. Dropping it out of the palm puts it into view and allows you to draw your firearm with the strong hand, while you can still hold a light, open doors or use that hand to take someone to the ground.
I’ve been trying to get a police equipment company interested in this for years and even had it published in a major magazine years ago. But my overwhelming wish is that it save lives. Make a Survival Strap. Today. Use it in good health.
Badge Strap in action:
Rocky Warren is a retired Sergeant from Placer Sheriff’s Dept. in Northern California. He’s a use of force expert witness, trainer and published author. www.rockywarren.com
