Police Flashlights Tips

The beginning of a new year is a great time to assess your gear and see what needs to be cleaned, replaced or updated. Do you have the same belt keepers you were issued in the academy, and now you’re an FTO?...

Ever notice that color seems to fade at night? That’s because rods, not cones, are what dominates a person’s night vision and makes it effective. Rods, located in a ring on the outside edges of the inner eye, are more...

If you're on rural patrol, are you prepared to survive this winter? Rural officers could easily find themselves alone and without communication, despite all our technology. There are cell phone and portable radio "dead...

To be ready to respond quickly to a crisis situation, I carry a "Go Bag." Inside of it are extra rounds (already in magazines), extra first aid items, extra charged radio battery, extra flashlights,...

Our department has flashlights that have both LEDs and xenon bulbs. I turn on just the LEDs and shine them behind me when walking to the car I've stopped. The LEDs are just bright enough to be visible to cars...

By Senior Officer Brian Carlsen Williamsburg (VA) PD Many officers think about backup weapons, but how about backup flashlights? Many departments issue a flashlight of some kind. If your department-issued light is...

Whether to start, continue or terminate a foot pursuit can be a major decision. A lot of factors come into play, obviously. Are you alone? What is the offense? Is the person supposed to be armed? Is the weapon a firearm?...

In this week's PoliceOne Video Tactical Tip, Ralph Mroz, Training Director for the Police Officers Safety Association (POSA), shows how a dual-intensity flashlight can help officers disorient suspects as well as do more...

For those of us that teach firearms we all know there are several techniques for using flashlights while shooting low light courses. One popular technique is the "chapman" in which the shooter holds the light...

I always carry a bright light (210 Lumens). When I'm dealing with people who begin to act as if they might become hostile, I give them a quick flash of light to the eyes. I have found that it tends to stun them for a...

Here are two tactics for after-dark traffic stops that I have found useful:

When using your spotlight on the driver's side mirror, approach from outside the path of the spotlight beam. I hold my flashlight in my...

Officers patroling an area at night looking for car thieves should shine their spotlight through the driver-side window and towards the roof of the vehicle. The reflection of whomever is in the vehicle will be seen on...

If you carry a weapon-mounted light, a second handheld light on your duty belt will allow you to scan without taking direct intense light off the subject. These high intensity lights also get hot and tend to blow bulbs...

In this week's PoliceOne Video Tip, provided by the Police Officers Safety Association (POSA), Jeff Brooks, a police officer and martial arts expert, explains the impact grip strength has on everything from handcuffing...

Driver inattention is one of the leading causes of vehicular accidents in the U.S. As officers we are more at risk than most due to the "routine traffic stop." Traffic stops are one of the most basic and dangerous things...

Recently, I found a flashlight that is perfect for as a backup light to replace those stingers or other belt lights. The Surefire E1E is approx.3.3 inches long and produces 15 lumens of light. The light runs off of 1...

Razorblades, needles, and other small, sharp objects can be hidden easily...even on the head. These tiny, yet potentially deadly, weapons are hidden/taped behind suspects' ears, under bangs, or on shaved spots on the...

A few years ago a more experienced officer gave me this tip that has worked for me and my coworkers. The officer applied reflective tape to his black, metal patrol flashlight (including the end cap). When you have the...