Seattle Police Manual

9.030 – Uniform Equipment

Effective Date: 4/18/2012

I. Approval Authority

A. The Chief of Police shall be the final approval authority in all matters relating to uniforms and duty equipment.

B. Proposals for changes to authorized uniform and equipment items will be submitted through the Uniform and Equipment Advisory Committee in accordance with Seattle Police Manual Section 9.070 - Uniform and Equipment Committee. All research, wear testing, and evaluations conducted by the Department will be coordinated by this Committee.

II. Required Equipment Items

A. Protective Vests (Body Armor):

 

1. A list of Department authorized vests is available through the Quartermaster Unit:

2. The Department will provide the employee with body armor of threat level II or IIIA. The vest must meet the current NIJ standard as listed in the city contract.

3. Officers will be issued a regular voucher for the 5-year replacement through the Quartermaster Unit.

4. An officer with a documented medical condition may acquire a Special Needs Voucher by contacting the Employment Services lieutenant.

5. The Special Needs Voucher will be authorized by the Employment Services lieutenant and then issued by the Quartermaster Unit.

 

a. The Special Needs Voucher will list the vests that are approved for special needs. No other vest will be substituted from those listed on the voucher unless authorized by the Employment Services lieutenant.

b. If an officer is wearing a ‘special needs’ vest, they must return their regular vest to the Quartermaster Unit.

6. Protective vests shall be worn:

 

 

a. In uniformed assignments where officers are routinely engaged in field contacts and duties.

b. If involved in a pre-planned operation where it has been determined that an involved individual may be armed.

c. When directed by a sergeant or above.

7. Exceptions

 

 

a. Medical Needs: A person requesting an exemption for medical reasons shall obtain a detailed written justification from their physician describing the condition and stating why the condition prohibits the wearing of the vest. The employee shall submit an SPD Memorandum (form 1.11) with the required documentation to the Employment Services lieutenant.

b. Specific Units: The Captain of any unit requesting an exemption from the mandatory vest requirement shall submit an SPD Memorandum (form 1.11) through the chain of command, to the deputy chief of operations for approval. The memorandum must state in detail the reason for the exemption.

8. Vests shall be replaced whenever they are defective. Regardless of condition, however, vests shall be replaced every 5 years.

 

a. In replacing a damaged or defective vest, officers shall submit an SPD Memorandum (form 1.11) through the chain of command to their bureau chief. The bureau chief will note their approval and send the memorandum on to the Quartermaster Unit. Upon approval, the Quartermaster will provide the officer with a voucher to present to the vendor for a replacement vest.

b. For routine replacement, the Quartermaster Unit will notify the officer directly.

9. Officers will only be issued one Department-approved ballistic vest, unless an additional vest is approved by an assistant chief (or officer of higher rank) in writing.

 

a. Funding for the additional vest will be taken from the budget of the approving assistant chief.

b. When a new ballistic vest is issued, the old vest must be turned in to the Quartermaster Unit.

B. Leather Gear:

 

1. All leather gear shall be black with the basket weave pattern. Plain (or patent) leather is prohibited.

 

a. Gun belt shall be the ‘Sam Browne’ type without the shoulder strap or shoulder strap metal loops. It shall be not less than two inches wide or more than 2 ¼ (two and one-quarter inches) wide, and must be a basket weave leather heavy enough to carry equipment without sagging. A separate belt must be worn to support the trousers. All leather gear is to be free from excessive visible scrapes and damage.

b. Cartridge cases shall be fashioned into two compartments and capable of holding twelve cartridges of revolver ammunition or two magazines of semi-automatic ammunition. The revolver ammunition case or magazine pouches must be held in place by a strap that fastens shut.

C. Nylon Gear:

 

1. Officers have the option of electing to use nylon gear as an alternative to leather duty gear. However, leather and nylon gear shall not be interchanged. If the gun belt is leather, the holster, cartridge case, and optional equipment holders shall also be leather. If the gun belt is nylon, the holster, cartridge case, and optional equipment holders shall also be nylon. There will be no exceptions.

2. All nylon gear shall be black in color and constructed of ballistic weave nylon divers web, or water-repellent Cordura® nylon. Metal parts shall be black in color. Velcro or snaps may be utilized to secure flaps on the cartridge case and optional equipment. All Nylon gear is to be free from excessive visible scrapes and damage.

 

a. Gun Belt shall be 2” (two-inches) wide with buckle, and must be rigid enough to carry equipment without sagging. A separate belt must be worn to support the trousers. A minimum of four (4) snap-type (black) belt keepers shall be worn to secure the gun belt to the separate trouser belt.

b. Cartridge cases shall be fashioned into two compartments and capable of holding twelve cartridges of revolver ammunition or two magazines of semi-automatic ammunition. The revolver ammunition case or magazine pouches must be held in place by a strap that fastens shut.

D. Flashlight: Uniformed officers must carry at least a two-cell spotlight type flashlight.

E. Handcuffs and keys shall be carried by all police officers.

F. Police whistles are required for all on-duty police officers, except those assigned to follow-up units or administrative duties.

G. Timepiece.

H. Traffic Safety Vest.

 

1. The only traffic safety vest authorized is the Department-issued lime green vest approved by the Department of Labor & Industries, or the reversible raincoat with the ANSI-rated ‘lime green’ side out. No other color of vest or reversible jacket is authorized for on-or off-duty personnel. Officers shall wear a reflective traffic safety vest:

 

a. When assigned to traffic control responsibilities at a designated location.

b. When employed off-duty with traffic control responsibilities.

c. When directed to do so by a Sergeant or above.

2. Officers are encouraged to wear the safety vest in other hazardous situations (hazmat spills, etc.) where they feel at risk.

I. Batons or Nightsticks: Shall be unaltered Department-issued or meet the following specifications:

1. Straight Batons:

 

 

Length - not to exceed 26”.

Weight - not to exceed 20 oz.

Material - wood or plastic.

Color - natural and/or dark in color.

2. Side Handle Batons:

 

Length - 24”

Weight - 27 oz.

Material - plastic

Color - black

3. Expandable Batons:

 

Length - not more than 26” expanded

Weight - not to exceed 20 oz.

Material - lightweight alloy tubing

Color – black

4. All officers shall complete a specifically-designed training course in the proper usage of the baton that they have chosen. Such a course shall be approved by the Training Unit. The Training Unit will maintain a list of officers who have been trained on a specific baton.

III. Optional Equipment Items

A. Chemical Restraints

 

1. Chemical restraint devices may only be issued or carried after an officer has successfully completed a training class approved by the Captain of the Training Unit. Individual officers shall have the responsibility of obtaining a replacement device when the contents are depleted.

2. Uniformed officers who carry a chemical restraint device shall use an approved carrier on their gun belt.

3. Officers may only carry Department-issued or privately purchased products that meet the following general criteria:

 

a. Unaltered dispensers containing not more than 4 oz. of the chemical formulation currently issued by the Department.

b. For non-uniformed use, officers may purchase a restraint device of the same or smaller size which is made by the same manufacturer and contains the same formulation as the issued product.

B. Electronic Control Device - TASER

1. The only electronic control devices authorized for Department usage are the TASER X26 and the TASER M26.

 

a. Only Department-issued TASER devices will be carried for duty use, except as authorized by the deputy chief in charge of less-lethal programs through the Force Options Resource Group.

b. No alteration of Department-issued TASER devices is permitted.

2. TASER devices may only be carried after an officer has successfully completed a Department training course as approved by the Captain of the Training Unit.

 

a. Mandatory yearly recertification training is required for an officer to continue carrying a TASER after initial training.

3. TASER Air Cartridge

 

a. TASER officers may carry and use only authorized Department-issued TASER Air Cartridges.

 

(1) The authorized TASER Air Cartridge for duty use is the XP 25-foot green blast door cartridge. Exception: Only SWAT and Department TASER Master Instructors are authorized to use, as an option, the tactical 35-foot orange blast door cartridge.

(2) Other TASER Air Cartridges may be authorized by the TASER Coordinator for use during training only.

b. TASER Air Cartridges are issued by precinct stationmasters or the Advanced Training Unit TASER Coordinator.

(1) TASER Air Cartridges will be individually issued to officers and documented by serial number.

(2) Absent exigent circumstances, TASER officers will only carry and deploy their individually issued and documented TASER cartridges.

(3) Replacement of expended cartridges will be through an officer’s precinct stationmaster after completion of required usage documentation.

4. TASER Holster

a. TASER devices shall be carried in a Department-authorized holster only. The Department-issued/authorized holster for the TASER X26 is the belt mounted Blade-Tech Tek-Loc. Officer purchase of the Blade-Tech thigh rig base for mounting of the Department-issued Blade-Tech holster is approved.

b. The Department-issued/authorized holster for the TASER M26 is the thigh mount Cordura® holster.

c. The only authorized location for placement of a TASER holster is on the belt on the side of the officer’s body that is opposite from the duty firearm, in a cross-draw or straight-draw fashion, or in a lowered left- or right-thigh position.

 

(1) Placement of the TASER holster on an officer’s belt next to or on the same side of the officer’s body as the duty firearm is strictly prohibited.

(2) TASER devices will not be carried in pants or jacket pockets, shoulder holsters, ankle holsters, in holsters attached to personal body armor, under outer shirts, or in any manner not contained within an authorized holster.

(3) Approval for TASER carry in any position other than the authorized location described above is done in writing through the Department TASER coordinator.

d. Privately purchased/alternate holsters: If an officer seeks approval for the use of any TASER holster other than Department-issue, they will submit an SPD Memorandum (form 1.11) to the Audit, Policy and Research Section, which will arrange an evaluation and approval through the TASER Coordinator/Training Section. Minimum criteria for approval consideration will be, but are not limited to:

 

(1) Hard-material holster construction to reduce potential impact damage,

(2) A positive retention system that requires the officer to secure the TASER,

(3) The ability to retain launched darts/probes if the TASER is fired within the holster.

(4) The ability to be mounted on the duty belt or in a thigh-mount position.

e. Authorized holsters, either Department-issued or approved private purchase, shall not be modified without TASER Coordinator approval.

IV. Demonstration Management Gear

A. Officers shall be issued:

1. 2 Riot batons (one long, one short)

2. Kevlar helmet with face shield

3. Helmet cover

4. Helmet bag

5. Department-fitted APR with carrier

6. APR voice amplifier/earpiece and adapter

7. Chest, knee, shin, foot, and forearm protectors (hard gear)

8. Black padded gloves (1) pair

9. Black waist-mounted bag

10. Black poncho (nametag required)

11. Black BDU (nametag required)

12. Safety glasses