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By Lt. Vincent Carty, NYPD
very officer should always carry a pair of leather gloves. They act as a second layer of skin against disease and injury when engaging suspects. The goves must be form fitting and you should be able to operate all facets of any weapon systems you may be trained to use (pistol, taser, baton, carbine, etc.) with them on.
One of my officers was bitten by an HIV Positive perp who was attempting “suicide by cop.” He bit the officer in his hand, breaking the skin and allowing fluid transfer. The officer was not wearing gloves, and I firmly believe that they would have protected him.
Gloves should be on your person, easily accesable and you should put them on before encountering the perp, because when #@$% hits the fan, it’s too late to put them on.