How are cops assigned their guns, partners, and vehicles?

Question

OK, having watched countless cop movies and action flicks, I wonder: Who assigns the law enforcement officer his/her weapon, buddy, and ride? Some movie cops get pea-shooter revolvers while others get semi-automatics or even shotguns. The protagonist usually gets a .45 Colt. Some film policemen get standard cruisers or off-road SUVs. The protagonist usually drives a sweet-looking detective car. Why does the hero usually get to dress in stylish home-clothes while the rest have to wear uniform? And how are their buddies assigned to them? Can the partner be of the opposite sex?
I'm asking this because I'm writing a detective short story and I need to know how these procedures are done. Thanks for answering!

So why would one cop get better weapons or vehicles than another? Does it have to do with rank or age? Or their profficiency with a certain weapon or vehicle? Can an officer wear home-clothes? And can opposite-sex partners be assigned? I always see same-gendered partners assigned to cops in buddy movies...

Answer 1

the chief of police and the capitans of the pd

Answer 2

At my Sheriff's Department, there was a fleet of patrol cars available in the "yard" for each shift. Most were Chevy Caprices, but some were Fords. It was "first come first served" as far as units went. Some were pieces of crap on their last legs and some were new. The only thing we had to make sure of was that all of the lights worked and the shotgun (standard issue to the car, not the Deputy) worked. We didn't have SUVs because in Southern California there was never any real need for them -- not a lot of rough areas or snow.

We had a standard issue firearm but if we wanted to buy our own from an approved list and qualify with it monthly, they didn't mind which one from the list was purchased so long as it was the same caliber as the issued ammunition. In our case, the only ammunition allowed was the 9mm, 147gr, subsonic hollowpoint.

We also had plain white (we called them "ice cream" cars) units that had regular police radios installed but no markings on the sice, and they had a manually-operated red-light spot on the driver side so you could still do traffic stops. Those were kind of fun to take out on patrol because people didn't realize they were cop cars until it was too late and as a result did some really stupid stuff right in front of you.

Our Investigators would wear nearly anything from blue jeans to suits...it depended on what they were doing. Court was usually a suit, "business casual" for the normal office stuff. Every department has at least one "GQ" type that would always dress to the 9's -- there was one that always had a perfect manicure, complete with clear polish.

Answer 3

Umm, when it comes to weapons issued, most departments have a list of hand guns and calibers that are o.k. to carry on duty. Most Individuals purchase nice quality guns before the academy or during the academy or otherwise they will have to use the academys pistols. So once an individual get hired by a department he has to make sure he can carry his weapon, usually done by checking the departments policy. If he can't carry his personal weapon. He can carry the departments pistol usually a lesser quality pistol. Or he can purchase a pistol that is o.k. to carry from the qualified department list. As for uniform vs cool clothes, the one's wearing the cool clothes would be in a higher position than the patrol units. Possibly a detective. As for vehicles same thing applys here too. The detectives and higher ups get the undercover vehicles and the patrol units get the standard ford or chevy cruisers. Sometimes speacial units like litter control , weights and scales, or captains get the Suvs. Just depends on the budget for the department. As for assinment of partners if its a daily thing than its usually done by the on duty shift seargent. So it would be up to his discretion, so you can be assigned with a female if your a guy. Making each day different.

Answer 4

Real life - guns are issued by the department or if it is small there will be a list of "approved" weapons that you must select from yourself. Most of the variance on TV is budget. Big budget = big props. Little budget = little props. Also, weapons used to fit the jobs, just like the clothes. Street officers usually have larger weapons as they were supposed to stand out in their uniforms and be noticed. Detectives were supposed to look professional and had smaller weapons that didn't ruin the good clothes as quickly. Detectives carried 2" revolvers because they needed something small to go under their suits but still be defensive if needed.

Nowadays most departments have a designated weapon so that all the officers know how to shoot everyone else's gun if they have to and all the magazines (devices that hold the bullets) fit all the guns and in an "end of the world as we know it" situation you can get more ammunition from your fellow officers.

Guns usually match the job just like clothes. Street officers wear distinctive uniforms and usually larger guns. Someone working undercover wears clothes designed to blend in with their surroundings and guns are chosen for their concealability and lethality.

Cars are assigned per department policy. Type and quality have a lot to do with department budget and environmental requirements. Highway patrol requires a different vehicle from rural mountain duty. Also undercover cars have to blend in and be inconspicuous.

Opposite sex partners are manpower requirements - probably not anything deliberate. Most departments don't have perfect numbers of officers to pair only women or only men together. Being an effective partner depends on a lot more characteristics than gender.

Answer 5

I work for a small county and we are required to purchase our own firearms. There is no such a thing as a partner in small areas such as mine, we work alone covering 600 square miles. Vehicles are asigned by the Sheriff. So it all depends on the agency, all have a different policy Im sure.

Answer 6

When you are sworn in you are issued weapons, handgun, shotgun. They are only given to you when you go to the range to train. When and if you graduate the academy they are released on that day.As far as partners I worked a one man car. Vehicles are issued when you are assigned a duty station.

Answer 7

Here's the skinny for my agency:

Firearms -

We are issued the firearm that has been approved by the department's administration. Factors that influence the decision are price, caliber, proficiancy, etc. Our firearm is the Swiss made Sig Sauer p229 .40 cal. It was chosen because of the high rating of performance. It is used by the military, CIA, FBI, Special Forces, and many other elite units in the world.

We are also issued a Benelli 12 guage shotgun in our squads. Along with that, if you are on a special team (i.e ERT, Hostage Negotiations, SART, etc) you are issued your special weapons to your car. I have an AR-15 assault rifle in mine. Snipers carry their weapons in their car as well.

If you want to carry an additional firearm. You are allowed to do so. You have to qualify with that firearm as you would your issued firearm (95% accuracy at the range every 4 months). I chose to carry a Springfield XD .40 cal for by backup gun as well as my off duty firearm.

Partners -

Partners are usually given to newer employees. We are usually solo, but you are assigned a partner if you are in training (i.e. your partner is your FTO), or you are working a special assignment (i.e. task force, high-risk warrant, concert, etc)

Patrol Cars -

You are issued a car when you are first employed. You are probably given a used car with about 50,000 miles on it. It will be a marked car. One that car hits 3 years or 120,000 miles, you have the option of getting a brand new marked car. If you chose to keep it for a while longer, you have to get a new one when the car hits 5 years. (one guy chose to do this, he had a 1995 Chevy Caprice with a corvette engine - fastest car we had at the time, he drove it to 250,000 miles).

If you get promoted to a Sergeant, you get to have your light bar removed and can drive it as a slick-top. If you get promoted to a Lt. you can have the option of having a brand new car and your car can be unmarked completely.

If promoted to a Detective, you are issued either a brand new Impala or Charger. The color will be maroon, blue, grey/silver, green, black, or brown/tan. Unmarked completely with out of county plates.

If promoted to Drug Task Force from the dtective position you will be issued whatever car you want (within practical reason) with either out of county plates or out of state plates. Most are trucks, older cars, or not a common "police" issue body.

The administration drives new Ford Explorers unmarked in either white, green, or black.

Hope this helps.

Answer 8

All officers on same duty get exactly the same weapon, there is no difference.

All officers on the same duty wear the exactly same uniform,
some have more metals that others

Answer 9

By the Chief of Police and his Captains.

Answer 10

They draw straws !