By Police1 Staff
In the ever-evolving field of law enforcement, SWAT officers are at the forefront, facing unique challenges that demand exceptional gear. Building on the foundational advice from Warren Wilson’s insightful article on essential investments for SWAT personnel, we’re taking a step further.
This spin-off piece, enriched with real-world suggestions from Police1 readers, explores additional gear that complements the SWAT toolkit. From gadgets to simple yet crucial items, uncover what Police1 readers recommend to enhance readiness, safety and efficiency in operations.
Top recommendations:
To mark doors or other paths you want to be marked visibly
Use it for everything from taping up a cut finger to securing a light on shields that break loose
This can be used to tie off a screen/storm door
Other Police1 reader suggestions:
- A quality multi-tool like a Leatherman, a set of Fix-it-Sticks, an appropriately equipped Otis packable cleaning kit, and a few cut-up rags/t-shirt material or whatever you like for utility purposes. These items have come in handy a bunch of times for me over the years. The multi tool even gets a place on the battle belt, it gets used so frequently.
- If Lead Devil, USA belts aren’t on the list, the list isn’t accurate. Best piece of kit you can have.
- Chewable/gummy electrolytes were always in my kit. Get them with carbs and electrolytes for those longer runs can really help keep you on task.
- Best thing I did on SRT was keep snacks/candy in my GP pouch. On the sniper team, I had a fanny pack full of stuff, from a Thermacell, sunscreen, bug spray, baby wipes, batteries and more snacks. Most important thing was a Boo Boo Kit. Everyone’s walking around with a trauma-laced IFAK and the medics had TQs for days, but no one had bandaids, we can plug bullet holes for days, but can’t do anything for a severe paper cut.
- I had all sorts of goodies in my pouch, paint can opens work the best for clearing weapon malfunctions, I had door stops, mini chems and ChapStick. SRT is 90% being uncomfortable in someone yard or a Bearcat, and 10% actually doing something, prepare for the 90%.
- Fat Ivan. You would be surprised how often being able to easily hold a door open comes in handy.
- For the tactisnacks I use honey stinger waffles, they are thin enough to fit into any pocket or admin pouch. Probably have seven in my kit right now.
- There is a product called flagging ribbon. It comes in a roll, and is bright yellow, orange, or pink-colored. It tears off and ties easily. It is handy for marking doors by tying it to doorknobs, marking patients during triage, etc.
- Training magazines. This is one of the items that sets professionals apart. Magazines are much less expensive today than they were in recent years, $20-50 a year and before long you will have a complete set of training mags for the range. While everyone else is frantically stripping duty ammo out of their magazines, you can pull out your dedicated training mags and give them some grief for acting like a bunch of recruits.
- A couple of large sandwich bags that are 1/4 full of cat litter and a small pack of baby wipes. You roll up the zipper to help keep open the bag to catch the contents of your field-expedient fecal deployment.
- A Ziploc bag with a sponge or the guts of a baby diaper. If you need to urinate, you have a place to go. Money well spent.
- Advil, TUMS, cough drops and toilet paper.
- Chem lights to mark places cleared, markers to mark places cleared, warm weather socks, extra batteries for lights, NVGs, comms. etc., PVC pipe for diameters of breaching tools, and breaching shotguns for quick stowing and deployment.
- Extra pair(s) of prescription glasses, tactical running shoes and/or extra pair of boots.
- Knee and elbow pads, Polaroid camera, sports mouthpiece, protein/granola bars, contractor trash bags, battery chargers, batteries, power banks, Ziploc bags and a tool kit.
- Small zip ties, rubber bands and landscape fabric or burlap for hasty sniper hides
- Sealed bottles of sports drinks keep a long time in packs without turning green like canteen/hydration bag water. Rotate every training or call out. And 24 hrs of food and meds, 72 if you’re a sniper.
- Gloves that are warm and waterproof for winter and wet ops, rugged and flexible for other times.
What would you add to the list? Email editor@police1.com.