| Police gear is essential for effective law enforcement. | | | | of police gear officers should have to do their job. At |
| For instance, vehicles and their accessories needed | | | | Smith College in North Hampton, Massachusetts |
| for tracking down criminals. Radar guns are necessary | | | | students protested when campus police were given |
| to enforce speeding regulations. Also, fingerprinting | | | | funds to purchase handguns. Students felt that the |
| cannot be done without the proper supplies. | | | | level of campus wrongdoing did not warrant police |
| When it comes to criminal and riot control, equipment | | | | officers having guns. The University was forced to |
| such as guns, tasers, and pepper spray are often | | | | look at the situation under the scrutiny of the public. |
| used. However, police department chiefs know that | | | | The lesson here is that law enforcement officials do |
| they must train their forces to use this gear carefully | | | | need equipment to protect the public and |
| or they can be forced to endure tense public | | | | themselves, but they must be properly trained to do |
| relations and potential lawsuits. | | | | so. Not only must they know how to handle the |
| In 2004, after the Boston Red Sox won the World | | | | equipment, but they must be trained to handle their |
| Series, police were employed for crowd control | | | | emotions under duress. |
| around Fenway Park. Unfortunately, an officer shot a | | | | Best-selling author Malcolm Gladwell makes several |
| pepper spray gun and a pellet struck Victoria | | | | suggestions about partnering police in his recent |
| Snelgrove, an Emerson College student, in the eye | | | | best-selling book Blink to reduce violence. Police |
| and killed her. The student reportedly was not posing | | | | departments need to follow best practices when |
| any harm at the time of the incident. She was | | | | training their officers. Police chiefs must also make |
| described as happily giving her friends high fives at | | | | sure that the correct weapon is assigned for the |
| the time- a fact which added more emotional weight | | | | situation. |
| to the story in public opinion. | | | | In addition, officers must understand how to properly |
| The story drew national attention and the Boston | | | | use their weapons. This includes practicing proper gun |
| Police Department was forced to accept responsibility | | | | maintenance. Courses are offered for recertification |
| for the death. The incident called attention to the | | | | for handling firearms and should be taken on a regular |
| importance of training officers to handle their | | | | basis. Some departments have no established gun |
| potentially threatening equipment with care and to | | | | inspection program and therefore the officer must |
| know when to use it. | | | | understand the importance of cleaning and |
| This was not the first time police had been accused | | | | maintenance. Experts recommend that officers who |
| of using excessive force. One of the most famous | | | | find trouble with their guns should not tamper with |
| cases involved police brutality is the beating of | | | | them. Instead, they should turn the guns into the |
| Rodney King. King was caught speeding by Los | | | | department. |
| Angeles police officers. He was then brutally beaten | | | | By performing maintenance and regularly inspecting |
| and tasered. A bystander caught much of the event | | | | law enforcement equipment officers keep a |
| on video and the footage was broadcast around the | | | | conscious understanding of the responsibility of |
| world. The result was a public relations nightmare for | | | | carrying weapons. More importantly, risks involved |
| the Los Angeles Police Department and raised tension | | | | with police gear and its use are placed front and |
| in race relations. | | | | center in the mind of the officer every day. |
| Even today controversy still exists as to what kind | | | | |