Correctional officers Duty Belt. What side should you place your OC and Handcuffs? Tonight on Tier Talk, Host Anthony Gangi, with help from his avid listeners, discusses the placement of an officer’s OC and Handcuffs on their duty belt.
Just discovered you man, new to corrections (Australia) and trying to set up my duty belt. You got a new fan anyway n looking forward to more videos!! Thank you sir!!
Best advice I can give. It was mentioned in this video. Make sure you can pull your stuff without looking at it. I could pull anything without looking for it. I even carried four carribeaners for keys and each had a designated use. I could pull what ever key you needed even when I had 7 rings. If I worked the area enough I could even hand you the right key without looking at it
The feds dictate that OC goes on dominate side. So that it is farther away from the inmate when pulled in a fighting/T stance. And the support hand can block and shield it from being taken.
I ran my cuffs immediately to the right of the belt buckle, and OC pouch to the right of that (in the "appendix" position). On my right hip I had a Safariland UBL configured with a QLS bracket, which allowed me to install a carrier for a MK-9 fogger, Taser holster, or Level III duty holster depending on what post I was working that day. Very slick and versatile setup. The only thing that should be over your spine is a soft disposable glove pouch; otherwise you're just asking for spinal injury.
When I went through the academy down here in Florida for Law Enforcement, and I’d still set it up the same way for Corrections, I’d put cuffs on strong side as the first thing on the belt. Since I have a small waist I’d have the cuffs in between the belt buckle and the strap that holds the folded piece of the duty belt. My OC would be on my support side as either the first thing on my belt or second depends on if my firearms amo is first or not. Keep in mind I only had one handcuff pouch in the academy. But either way, both should be in the front of your belt accessible with either hand.
Back in the day when i was a FTO no stuff on duty belts if your not trained. But everyone is on our dept. College and the Academy. I'm going on 25 years as a city cop here in Wisconsin. Our Dept. Can't use nylon or tactical belts just our SWAT TEAM. We use Safariland Sam brown duty belts with buckle or no buckle. Same thing for pouches. My right side is my keys, oc spray, holster, cuff SW 300 hinged. Then gloves. Left side mag pouch, gerber tool, flashlight, ASP Baton and RTO in case my backup chain SW 100 chain in my pocket. 25 years never changed! My backup Colt Compact 1911A1 45 ACP on my right ankle. We carry Sig Sauer P 320 45 ACP Since 2014. No premiture firing in our holsters. It's the 9mm. Smith and Wesson sigma and XP 9mm has the same problem. I'm a left handed person to i snipe and use long guns andvshot guns left handed. Pistol right handed. Dam Marines change me from left pistolman to right! Great show!
I am used to having my cuffs upfront on my right side in front of my gun working security. In Missouri, we are only issued one set of cuffs and OC. Typically If I carry cuffs behind I have them on my 5 or 4 or my 7 or 8. Typically have a handcuff strap on my forward most left on my belt or my 1130 on the rare occasion we get two sets or if I am carrying another officer's cuffs to return to them. I always keep my Mark 4 OC on my 3 in place of my firearm because I do not have a job where I would carry a handgun. The only weapons we are issued are our radio and OC
I work armed government security but I carry all the same equipment for the most part. Taser is support side for cross draw. Behind the taser is OC. Hinged cuffs on a strap behind my gun with a belt keeper in between. I opted to not carry the ASP 21 inch baton due to lack of space and the ineffectiveness of it IMO.
My OC is on the front of belt to to support side with a adjustable holster which allows for a cross draw, this allows me to use my support side for blocking or distancing myself from an attack. My cuffs are placed beside my OC. Nothing is placed on the back of my belt. This has been the best setup for me. I can access any weapon I need without ever looking down and taking focus off my target.
Being firearm certified I’m mandated for OC to be on weak hand side. I deep it at the front of my belt and I carry 2 sets of cuffs. One on weak hand front beside my OC and a set on my back right so I have cuffs no matter what hand I have free
I'm not in corrections. I work unarmed security but I carry everything a correctional officer carries. This is what I do. What ever my primary weapon system is goes on my primary side. I usually have my taser on cross draw and my baton and OC on my primary side because I prefer having my deadly force option on my primary side.
OC strong side. Even with firearm on hospital runs/posts phych/medical unit. I'm no longer behind the wall. However, I carried cuffs behind my back. I am/was too fat to reach both with both sides from the front. I didn't hear the points mentioned in the video against the small of back carrying of the cuffs. At our unit the CO's were only issued one set of cuffs. Sgts got 2. During a forced cell extraction team training we removed our duty belts. I placed my cuffs in my pocket strong side. I had the "inmate" CO acting secure with my strong hand. I tried to reach for the cuffs with my support and couldn't reach. I then let go of the hold and didn't replace my hold to support. I went to grab cuffs and that's when the "inmate" shoved my head to the mat. That is the day I went to the small of the back. I only ever pulled out the cuffs once in a response to a situation. And they were on my back. I help my captain control the inmate and then reached for the cuffs. I never deployed my oc except for the other night in my dreams. I'm still feeling the burn in my nose.
Radio on the left; if I don’t have a mic. You don’t need dominant hand; to call a code; you need that one to fight. Spray on the right side; I always did cuffs to the right side behind spray, Next time around I’m going to carry some back up cuffs on the back of my belt.
At our facility, we carry keys, radio, taser, OC, cuffs, and pouch. I’m left handed, and I carry my cuffs and OC on my strong side (left), and my taser and radio on the support (right) glove pouch in the back, and keys in pocket. I decided to set my duty belt the way I did as I’m not 100% sure if i will stay in corrections or continue on in my career into policing or another job where I will carry for the very reason that Anthony mentioned in the video, muscle memory. I would hate to think that I would be going for my taser, but god forbid would pull out my fire arm and use that instead. At the end of the day, everyone is different, but consistency is key!!!
I kept my oc on my strong side over my right pocket. Cuffs go on strong side behind pistol holster with second set on weak side. I place those things there because you should never have oc out and cuffs out at the same time. It creates a fast transition from oc to cuffs or oc to pistol or pistol to cuffs. Nothing in the small of the back except a glove pouch. Baton holder on both sides at the seam of the pants. Carry two in case you have a food slot tool and baton at the same time or having to quickly holster baton it gives you options. Baton should be carried away from offenders during escort. Don’t force yourself to only be on the left or right. Radio depends on if I have a vest on or not. Just my old set up I used. Worked well for many years. I could locate any tool without thinking about it. Baton was by feel. The weight let’s me know where it is.
My problem is I'm effectively ambidextrous so at this point I adjust their placements based on weight. Where I'm at, we only get a radio and flashlight. OC Spray is issued at central but only for emergency. I keep 2 key sets on my right side and a third one handed to me to turn in on the third one on my left. Main flashlight on the left, radio on either or both hips when it comes down to it, I have 2 oc holsters if I am issued them it goes in one and my backup flashlight in the other. I haven't found a comfortable sport for cuffs but I keep 2 - 2x holsters on myself, first is the 5 o'clock and the other is in the 7 right next to my glove pouch behind my 3rd key keeper. The reason I keep 2 pairs of cuffs is because if I'm occupied they're easy access for other officers The flashlights I have are a small high power magnetic that I use for most everything, and a 4 d cell as my other backup.
My OC is usually kept on my left side because I'm faster with it and more direct for jabbing or striking with my flashlight, radio, or backup flashlight. That said I have a second holster for the mk4 on my right side behind the center loop but before the back pocket as second location and backup. But that's also where I keep dog poo bags so I can gather evidence if I haven't been issued oc
i keep my oc and handcuffs currently on my strong side as close to the front as i can there linked together with a orpaz handcuff/oc holster i carry taser crossdraw i carry radio clipped to shirt and i also carry a flashlight on the left im am still updating my belt as i go on since i only just started
Strong side forward of the hips and in front of weapon if carried to allow them to be reached with both hands. If baton or taser weak side cross draw. I wear my mic on left shoulder strap. If carried on the chest, I can't always hear calls in louder areas.
(Right Handed) (Left Side). O.C. spray on left side towards the front. Scanner behind O.C., Taser behind scanner, cuffs behind taser. (Right Side starting from front) baton, silent key pouch for fob and cuff key, pistol holster, radio, set of cuffs.
This may be different for those who work in bigger jails/prisons. I work in a relatively small county jail I think we have like 90 right now but we aren't at max. My oc is on support side because we carry tasers so that is on my strongside and my cuffs are also on strongside kind of on my side/back. I don't carry anything on the front of my belt except key keeper only because I'm a bigger guy. I also don't have a extender on my radio because it can choke and I can usually yell at the person in tower to open close doors also no one goes in cell blocks by themselves so if we get attacked we have someone who can grab their radio and yell plus person in tower always should have eyes on us because tower is in middle of cell block so they can also yell for help through there radio if we both get attacked simultaneously. The reason I have oc and taser on opposite sides also in front of everything else. Usually both are at my side but when I'm in cell blocks they move up and my arms go over them. Like I said could be different for bigger places.
@@TierTalk thanks for the reply. Just putting my two sense in. Like I said bigger places could be different because they could have more stuff. But it should all be where you feel comfortable with your ability to use them if needed also to where you are confident you can protect those weapons when you go in cell blocks.
Thanks Gangi. In addition to working State Corrections I also work for my Local Sheriffs Office as a Corrections Transportation Officer so I’m on the road a lot. It is really amazing the different ways people set up their belt. I base it off of what is tactically effective . God bless and I’ve been following you since the start of my career.
I run my mk4 and mk9 on the support side , due to muscle memory firearm strong side when on transport . Radio 7-8 o'clock position two pairs cuffs 4-5 o'clock positions . I never change location of my gear because muscle memory I never have to think about where equipment is . I don't want oc on the strong side because I want my string hand to be able to throw punch or keep a inmate back
OC at 4 0'clock strong side. Transport with weapon at 3 o'clock OC stays in same place as always so there is no confusion. Cuffs at 5 and 7. Radio between cuffs and OC on strong side with mic at centerline of shirt in front. We wear polo's with epaulet at bottom of button holes. Like you said sometimes just personal preference but mine is with 24 years and this is best for me. I am a big guy (44" duty belt) so that gives me more room than the little guys.
Oc front right (strong side) that way I can protect it, I stand support side bladed towards traps. Cuffs also strong side a little farther back to protect them/noone can get to them. We are not allowed to carry anything like baton/gun/taser.
Support side hand is used incase the inmate is close to defend myself. Main 2 key clips are between, the two to defend them if needed. They can't grab through the trap.
In my department I'm not aloud to carry a handgun but in my personal life I carry concealed with a pepper spray less lethal. And so that I don't fuck up as a civi I keep oc on my support side so I'm consistent. I keep cuffs at 4oclock and 8 o'clock in case my hand is occupied I wouldn't have to reach around with my other hand to get them
Let’s be real, the majority of C/Os won’t get a fire arm unless higher seniority or O/T. On the right side of my belt(strong side) I have OC in the right side in front, cuffs on the right side behind OC, radio mount behind cuffs, man down on the right side in back. On the left side I have my PR-24 in front, flash light behind it and my mark-9 duty belt holster behind the flash light. The pr-24 is for cross draw. All keys stay in front for visual accountability.
Our dept mandates where our gear is placed. O.C. at 2 o’clock, gun 3, baton 4, taser crossdraw. If you’re issued all that I carry my oc at 2 o’clock, 2 pairs of cuffs 1 at 4:00 and 7:00
Tier Talk RU-vid Channel the sheriffs SOP is very strict for both Jail and patrol. Of course when I give click references to location that is relative to their strong side. I’ve never seen anyone written up about placement of gear, but we are in the jail, so we don’t have to be around looking perfectly uniform for the public. Our SOP was really written for patrol and passed along for the whole sheriffs office.
On my duty belt my preference is cuffs strong side front followed by OC spray space for firearm when transporting and then my glove pouch on my support side I carry my Baton Is support side cross straw followed by radio then followed by stab gloves Again this is my preference
I put OC on my strong side so if I have to defend myself I can block with my weak hand and grab my OC with my strong hand. Cuffs are on my support side so I can grab them while maintaining control of the inmate with my strong side.
Tier Talk RU-vid Channel No I wear my OC forward on the belt slightly so I can put the firearm behind it where I can reach straight down and draw the firearm.
Tier Talk RU-vid Channel I have had my belt set this way for 12 years and it's all muscle memory. I would suggest to all new officers to get an empty inert OC can and cuffs of your own and practice drawing them. Also practice taking keys off of your belt. Develop that muscle memory, it could be the difference between walking away from an attack or not.
Never wear cuffs on the middle of your back. Permanent spine damage can result. I carry a cuff clip on my dominant side. We also have legiron cases and restraint caissons -carts-for mass cuffdowns like full tier shakedowns and 100+ men need backcuffed at once.
Going from the front of the belt clockwise I got my OC thigh rig with flashlight on my strong size, keys, radio, handcuffs (small of the back), OC grenade holster, baton, alarm. **You highly discourage having the cuffs on our small of our back but being a yard cop, I got a full belt. Also with the radio it is at the 4 o’clock position and the radio Mic goes through my back and over my left shoulder to clip on the center line of my shirt.
Tier Talk Correctionsone RU-vid Channel, you’re probably right as far as it not being the most ideal place but as you were saying it’s all about preference and when I need to deploy my options, placement does matter.
Tier Talk Correctionsone RU-vid Channel Agreed! The last thing that you need is to get in a fight and not get to yours options in order to match convenience.
I wore my handcuffs in the middle of my back so i could reach it with either hand and the oc on my strong hand side in a hip holder and my radio and baton on my weak side
I also disagree with having handcuffs centerline small of the back. I’ve witnessed staff back injuries during use of force where they go to the ground on their back... that blunt force of the restraints against your spine causes quite a bit of damage.
I carry my oc on my left near the front witch is my non dominant radio behind that right under my left arm a pairof cuffs in tge small of my back but with out case just hanging over my duty belt then a cuff case right back of hip and a seat belt cutter in front of that the reason i have my oc on left side is bc if a inmate comes at he gets a punch to the face the oc we use sucks so i would strike first i use oc when we going in to stop some one from kicking or fluding i dont like the oc bc the on we got sucks but to the officers it works on us but the inmates eat that shit like nothing so it gets on me and i cant see but the inmate can see so i dont use it much wish we had batons. We have tasers but only bout 2 or 3 a shift they dont let all of us have them and most very one can carry if takeing a inmate out side the jail i cant leave the jail with inmate bc i cant carry not 21 yet
I worked corrections for 4 years and patrol from 2016 until now... your belt will evolve. There is no def way to do anything its whatever you're comfortable. In corrections because you dont have a firearm it will differ i carried my taser as if it was a firearm since it was my highest use of force. Spray support side front and two cuffs in the back on left one right side. Since there are no mags or firearm makes a big difference.
I just started as a detention officer and a jail. I need to buy myself a duty belt. My pants are a 38". And I'm not sure what size Duty Belt I need to buy.
Tier Talk RU-vid Channel some police departments I worked mandated everybody carry the exact same way, but others especially those that took a lot of lateral transfers allowed people to carry things where they felt more comfortable and were already trained.
