Sat Nov 21 2009
By JARED ORZOLEK
It was in August 2007 when a man armed with a .40-caliber Glock handgun fired shots in two homes on West Main Street in Napoleon
When 43-year-old Jeffery Mullen aggressively approached police responding to the incident, a less-than-lethal projectile was fired by police wielding a shotgun to subdue the suspect.
This piece of equipment in the Napoleon City Police Department's arsenal helped police restore peace to the neighborhood and avoid inflicting more serious harm on a suspect -- later convicted of four felonies -- who was dangerous to himself and others.
When police officers and sheriff's deputies respond to incidents, begin road patrols or carry out other police duties, they utilize a wide range of equipment -- from defensive weapons and restraints to law manuals and crime scene tape.
Equipment used varies slightly from officer to officer and department to department. "They have a great big duffle bag of stuff they have to have," said Napoleon Police Chief Bob Weitzel. "It is kind of taxing, they probably carry 30 or 40 pounds with them some of the time."
The equipment police officers need is deployed on their tool belts, inside the cabs and storage compartments of patrol cars and at department headquarters.
Each Napoleon police officer carries a Taser, pepper spray and a standard-issue .40-caliber handgun manufactured by Glock.
"There was a lot of research done when we selected the caliber. You get a consistent shot accuracy across a number of different officers. Of course, we hope we never have to use those," Weitzel said. "All officers are carrying a Taser. They are all certified."
The department also utilizes .223-caliber AR-15 rifles and 12-gauge shotguns that can be fired with less-than-lethal ammunition if needed to preserve the safety of individuals or police, Weitzel said.
Napoleon police have not been issued riot gear as the city has not secured any since state surplus gear was given to Napoleon decades ago.
"Hopefully, those days are gone. The 1960s were where that supply came from," Weitzel said.
Officers carry other important pieces of equipment while doing police work.
Weitzel said this equipment is typically carried on the tool belt and includes a multi-tool, extra ammunition, handcuffs and possibly a small flashlight.
Other equipment officers typically utilize are radar guns, flares, traffic control vest, crime scene tape, devices for unlocking cars and law and police procedure manuals. A large flashlight, rubber gloves, chalk, fire extinguisher, digital camera, digital voice recorder and a wheel to measure distances associated with traffic accidents are also used.
"Each tool has a place and you want to have it all in the right place," Weitzel said.
In the city of Defiance, Police Chief Tim Tobias said officers carry an array of gear similar to that of Napoleon officers.
"Our belts carry 20 pounds or more when everything is on them," Tobias said.
Defiance police officers also carry .40-caliber Glock handguns, handcuffs, Tasers, an expandable baton and other gear.
"Some guys have an extra pouch or two they keep things in," Tobias said.
Inside the patrol car, officers store devices for stopping moving cars, shovels, brooms, accident investigation tools and automated external defibrillators (AED).
Officers also carry paperwork, manuals and other office items inside their briefcases in Defiance in addition to a supply of rubber gloves.
"We use the rubber gloves a lot," Tobias said, explaining that these are worn when officers search suspects, investigate crime scenes or respond to a situation where blood may be found.
At the Henry County Sheriff's Office, Chief Deputy Bill Vocke reports that the two-way radio is the most important piece of equipment that deputies use. Each car is equipped with a radio and each deputy has a handheld unit he can also use.
"Those are very important. If someone needs help, they can communicate instantly," Vocke said.
The sheriff's office also utilizes computers inside three of its patrol cars, which provide instant information for deputies on patrol.
"They can drive down the road and punch data into the computer. It gives you a lot of information instantly."
The sheriff's office utilizes standard-issue .40-caliber handguns and shotguns and is in the process of acquiring Tasers.
"We are finding that the domestic violence situations are becoming more and more out of control. The Tasers are becoming a necessary tool," Vocke said.
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