Duty Bag Essentials
Updated: Jul 5, 2021
Below you'll find our recommendations for gear that we believe every officer should have in their duty bag. Policing in the 21st Century requires us to be a jack-of-all-trades, and these tools will help us conquer the myriad of problems that we encounter on a daily basis. Check back often as we update and add to this list as frequently as possible.
Now this tool is a definite must have for the duty bag. It’s a lightweight, compact seatbelt cutter and window punch. There are tons of these types of tools available online, but we opted for this one for its size, its dual-functionality, and it really is just easy to use. It's dummy proof! It comes in multiple colors, and we chose the “safety yellow” color for its visibility.
A multi-tool is another must have for your duty bag. I can’t even county the number of times I’ve had to use my Leatherman on duty. Whether I was using the wire cutter, the knife, or the screwdriver, the Leatherman always came through when I needed it most. Again, there are tons of other multi-tools available online, but we chose this one for its durability, the tons of tool options and the Leatherman warranty.
North American Rescue - Combat Application Tourniquet
By now most of us have at least one tourniquet that is easily accessible during our shift. If you don’t, you should. We here at Ten8Bag recommend having at least two. Me personally, I keep one on my duty belt and one in my duty bag. The one in my bag is the same one listed in this article. I opted to go with the “rescue orange” color so that day or night it is highly visible. I wanted to be able to find it easily in my duty bag and I wanted it to be completely visible to the medical professional that’s going to take it off.
For those of us that work nights, the Streamlight Stylus Light is awesome for working DWI's. It functions as a great stimulus when conducting the Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus Test. It's tough, light, and has a clip that you can use to attach to your vest.
HYDRO CELL Stainless Steel Water Bottle
Even if you don't like drinking a lot water, you really should carry a water bottle in your duty bag. Hydration is important, obviously, but you may also need water to flush out a suspects eyes if you had to spray him. We recommend the Hydro Cell because it's tough, insulated, and will keep your water cold for a long time.