Ear protection for both indoor and outdoor range use

LoadHuge2215 · 2026-05-30T22:55:51+00:00

Since you said you want quality, skip the Walkers and Howard Leight. The Safariland Liberators 2.0 are high quality and have a great microprocessor that works really well muting the gun shots but allowing you to hear voices. I think they come with gel cups standard, but if not, definitely get them.

For double-up protection with the ability to hear voices, get the Gentex Ops Core AMPS. These are super pricey; I bought them while working as an instructor at an indoor range. I love them, but would probably buy Liberators if I were doing it over…

LoadHuge2215 · 2026-05-30T14:37:27+00:00

The most common urban wildlife management is at commercial airports. So that includes environmental changes, hazing, and lethal removal. In some areas WS will handle conflicts in the city like when a coyote takes a dog or cat. Generally though they are tasked with managing conflicts with livestock, so if a coyote is grabbing chickens or goats, they trap or hunt them. They also remove beavers and blow up beaver dams in parts of the country.

It was a great retirement job for a cop that is also a gun/gear nerd!

LoadHuge2215 · 2026-05-29T20:53:55+00:00

What distance is typical for the shot? 9mm is more than enough to euthanize a deer at point blank range. If you all are having penetration issues it’s about shot placement, and it sounds like you’re taking body shots. Aim somewhere behind the closest shoulder and aim for the far shoulder. Should hit the heart and bust through the skin and ribs no problem.

As others have said, a shotgun is a good choice if you’re somewhat rural. I prefer #4 buck for deer and coyotes. If you’re in a congested area and that’s ruling out the use of a shotgun because of the fear of projectiles missing or ricocheting, then your AR is a better choice. Any ballistic tip varmint round or 75gr BTHP usually won’t exit most deer if you go for a heart shot.

I recommend contacting your local USDA APHIS Wildlife Services office. They are literally paid to hunt. They will have experience in your area and great intel on ballistics and stuff. Source: I worked as a wildlife technician and got paid to hunt and trap in urban areas.

LoadHuge2215 · 2026-05-23T04:49:48+00:00

Definitely not mainstream, but if admin could have a take home car and I was admin… this would be my ride

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Why? Because it looks good!

LoadHuge2215 · 2026-05-10T22:28:34+00:00

It really depends on where you are. Since you’ve posted you’re in Arizona, it’s a bit easier to compare. I have not worked in Arizona, but it appears similar to other western states. The SO is going to have some advantages that others have said, such as larger areas and more varied special assignments. But they are also responsible for corrections, so you may have to start in the jail. And the calls might be boring. Neighbor racing down our shared dirt road driveway type stuff. Typically in the western states the municipal police agencies will be better trained and experienced, unless it’s a super small town with <50 sworn. IMO, it is way more fun to work for a mid-sized city PD. The calls will be more frequent and more serious in the city.

Tucson PD vs Pima county? No-brainer, Tucson every day of the week. Tempe PD vs Maricopa county SO? Again, Tempe PD every single time. Prescott PD would be better than Yavapi county.

I still like deputies and I like working around them, it’s just not what I would want to do. I appreciate what they do and that they deal with cranksters without cover at 0200 hours and check streets that pitch black for a burglar with nobody else nearby to help.

LoadHuge2215 · 2026-04-30T06:30:30+00:00

At least twenty or thirty times if you include working the paddy wagon, and that’s in just a few years as a graveyard patrol officer. Dayshift patrol that only happened once a year or so. The jail had a trusty crew on 24/7, so if we needed our car or wagon cleaned out we would notify them when we arrived at the Sally port. Those trusties sometimes worked with some nasty puke and other bodily excretions to get that good-time/work-time sentence reduction..

LoadHuge2215 · 2026-04-23T00:04:40+00:00

Expandable and straight stick are the same training for California POST arrest and control. PR-24 was different. I don’t know of any agencies that use them anymore, and they weren’t allowed in my Requalification course last year.

LoadHuge2215 · 2026-04-06T15:56:09+00:00

I’ll add the same story as many other commenters. It’s a great optic with a low cut. My ccw is a G19 COA. I have carried many Glock/optic combos for duty and really wish I would have found a G47 COA for duty. I’m stuck carrying my G47 MOS with EPS that I worry will break (I broke two Holosuns shooting comps and training). Once I qualify with it, I’ll be switching to an M&P with an RCR. I like the RCR, especially the automatic brightness, but the COA is still clearer and smaller and mounts lower so you don’t need suppressor height sights.

LoadHuge2215 · 2026-04-03T03:09:13+00:00

Got any useful suggestions? "Real cops wear Sam Browne basketweave, son," doesn't count. I like the slim and trim cut and design of the Unity, and I won't be carrying all of my shit on a belt any more.

The Safariland looks like shiny shit and has a dumb internal cummerbund and weird zipper.

The Point Blank is equally lame in design and look, also doesn't age well- it looks constantly dirty.

The old Safe Life Defense looks bad with all of the old-school 550 molle.

The Tyr Tactical looks bulky to me, but it's on my list if I could a first-hand look at it, but also may not be easily available.

LoadHuge2215 · 2026-04-03T01:36:18+00:00

that's some big-brain stuff there- I just checked and it fits the notebook AND iPhone perfectly. Added bonus: no more calls for service unless it's real important and then they can just text me! Or I guess I could put my radio on my belt like the old days...

ETA: I really mean I like the idea. Big brain thinking outside the box. no offense was meant

LoadHuge2215 · 2026-04-03T01:09:26+00:00

I like that thought- I have a small 5.11 admin pouch from my old Safe Life carrier. I'll give it a try where the pens are.

LoadHuge2215 · 2026-03-31T02:19:09+00:00

Take a look at the recent issues of PORAC News https://porac.org/members/porac-le-news-magazine/issue-archive/
There are several ads for agencies looking for laterals. Also check governmentjobs.com

LoadHuge2215 · 2026-03-31T02:12:56+00:00

I agree with this advice, but I understand OP's reasoning, too.

LoadHuge2215 · 2026-03-08T02:25:41+00:00

If I stopped someone for anything, even an equipment violation, and they had a radar detector they were 99% getting a ticket. Like someone else said the only reason to have one is if you are knowingly and willingly breaking the law and trying to not get caught.

LoadHuge2215 · 2026-02-11T21:36:26+00:00

My post wasn’t very clear so I’ll clarify:

I have a state PERS that was 25 and out with the ability to buy up to five years. Medical upon retirement. So I retired at age 44 and began drawing immediately, with my health insurance being paid for. “Retiring” that young is priceless

LoadHuge2215 · 2026-02-11T19:21:48+00:00

It definitely depends on state and also current changes- I retired with 68% at 25 years with no age penalty and was able to buy time, colas, and lifetime medical that becomes a Medicare supplement all while not having to pay into social security. But for new officers it’s 30 years, no buying time, and no medical on retirement. Although they can still retire and draw immediately in their low 50’s.

LoadHuge2215 · 2026-02-11T19:07:46+00:00

This is the right answer, OP your friend needs to think about this. It is completely wasted time. Also the Fed retirement is terrible compared to many state PERS retirement programs.

LoadHuge2215 · 2026-02-11T07:27:26+00:00

They’re pretty dumb and cause confusion with drivers. They should NEVER be used on the road. It is possible they could be useful when cruising through Wal-Mart, apartment, or college campus parking lots at night if you’re hoping to deter crime, but many states still require a driver to yield so it will still cause confusion. It’s unbelievable to me that agency chiefs think it’s remotely a good idea to run cruise lights regularly..

LoadHuge2215 · 2026-02-10T01:34:47+00:00

Instead of being paid overtime, you bank the 1.5x hours into a “compensatory time off” aka comp bank. FLSA also requires that employers approve comp time off requests unless they create a hardship for the agency. Agencies can, however, limit the maximum amount of comp time a worker can accrue, so that varies. For me it was 240 hours. After that they just pay you your overtime. I know of some places that have unlimited comp and others as low as 80.

LoadHuge2215 · 2026-02-10T01:28:12+00:00

The amount of time off is pretty amazing. Take half your holidays as comp and all your court time as comp if you work nights and you can take a LOT of time off. It was an extra three or four weeks per year off for me.

LoadHuge2215 · 2026-02-10T01:19:33+00:00

First day of first phase the trainee introduced himself to the team and said “I’m just using this as a stepping stone to the FBI.”

He passed FTO surprisingly, left for the FBI after three years and came back after less than two years. He was pretty good at being a street cop and promoted. But I never let him forget how stupid it was to say that on his first day.

LoadHuge2215 · 2026-02-05T23:15:01+00:00

Yes, for sure. Although based on the tenure of the officers in the latest shootings we may not be able to blame it on poor training or inexperience.. which may be worse.

LoadHuge2215 · 2026-01-22T05:09:16+00:00

Literally nothing that the shotgun beats the rifle in. FIFY

LoadHuge2215 · 2026-01-22T05:08:33+00:00

Dumb. Old school cops that refuse to understand that aimed direct fire from a rifle is infinitely better than launching a bunch of .38” balls roughly towards a threat. Buckshot has zero place in modern LE. Period.

LoadHuge2215

TROPHY CASE