Best Practices AMAURY MURGADO
15 THINGS TO MAKE YOUR LIFE EASIER ON PATROL Stock up on simple yet essential items like pens and spare socks so you’ll have them in your squad when you need them.
I
f you open the trunks of 20 officers’ patrol cars, you’ll see 20 variations on the same theme. The organization of each trunk will be as different as its contents. I’ve always used milk crates to create pockets of useable and organized space in mine. I’ve gotten a lot of interesting stares when I open the trunk of my cruiser. Not just because it is well organized, but because I carry a hodgepodge of items based on my experience and anticipated needs. My inventory is based on not only taking care of my individual needs but later on as a supervisor, taking care of my squad or platoon as well. For example, I carry extra loaded magazines for my riflemen, extra ammunition for our handguns, various crime scene processing items, and extra flashlights along with batteries for them. You create headaches for yourself when you have to stop what you are doing because you need something. When you need it, you need it. I have created a list of items that I’ve found useful over the years. I recommend you use it to start or perhaps update your own list. Then make sure you carry everything you’ve decided you need in your squad. Here are my personal preferences in no particular order.
1. CLIPBOARDS
Think of the clipboard as a portable desk that you can pre-
stack with your necessary forms. Place a pen under the clip and you are good to go. Now your victim and witnesses have a stable platform to write on. They can also write virtually anywhere, even if it’s just sitting down and resting the clipboard on their thighs.
2. A BOX OF CHEAP PENS
Pens have a habit of disappearing or going bad. Buy a box
of cheap pens and keep them inside your car and not in your trunk (because of excessive heat). If someone walks away with one of your 10-for-a-dollar pens, there’s no reason to think twice about it. Also, if one happens to "blow up" or run out of ink, you have spares to choose from.
3. LEATHER WORK GLOVES
A definite must, unless you like cutting or burning your
hands. Leather gloves are great for moving debris from a traffic crash, working around broken glass, moving trees or branches from a storm or flood, and for working with anything that might be hot from sitting out in the sun all day. They will also protect you from those unexpected sharp edges when moving large items while searching.
4. CRIME SCENE TAPE
Hopefully your agency issues you rolls of this
stuff. It’s a must to block off a major crime scene. I carry three or four rolls (our office issues it) because I got tired of members of my platoon inevitably doing the “Crime Scene Tape Shuffle” going from deputy to deputy asking if they had any. We would save long strips of used tape, roll them up, and reuse it later. The shorter pieces would be saved for marking trails, entrances, or exits.
You keep tools of the trade like ammo and body armor in your car, but that's not enough.
14
POLICE MAY 2013
PHOTO: AMAURY MURGADO
5. SPRAY PAINT
I always have at least two cans of yellow or
orange spray paint with me. I use it to mark and then move vehicles involved in traffic crashes. Spray paint is also a good way to mark something you need to identify in a hurry. For more Best Practices go to www.PoliceMag.com/bestpractices