A simple word made up of only 7 letters. In the often exciting and dangerous world of law enforcement, the word “holster” can be lost. Wikipedia defines a holster as “a device worn to hold, or restrict the undesired movement of a handgun”. There are many types of holsters available, but I want to talk about the recently issued duty holsters provided to the deputies of the Bureau County Sheriff’s Department. Over the past few months, the deputies have been issued a security duty holster to provide better retention of their duty handgun. I applaud the Office of the Sheriff for this action. However: HOW COME IT TOOK SO LONG?? The currrent Sheriff has been in office for 7 years and is just now getting around to providing this article of safety equipment. Also, why did not the previous Sheriff address this same issue while he was in office (incidently, that same previous Sheriff would now like you to elect him into that office). Quickly, duty law enforcement holsters are identified by varying levels of retention security, starting at Level I and increasing. At the Level I, the security is provided by a strap over the handgun. When I was commissioned at a San Bernardino County Deputy Sheriff, I was provided with a department issued holster that met a certain security level. I was also instructed on its use and had to demonstrate that I was proficient in its use. If I was not comfortable with the holster, I could purchase another design (useing my uniform maintenance allowance, which I will be talking about in the future) as long as it met the retention level established within department policy( a written policy that I believe does not exist within the Bureau County Sheriff’s Department). Again, I had to demonstrate my proficiency with that holster. When the holsters were given to the Bureau County Deputies, they were simply told to go home and practice with it. My observations have been that a deputy who is not proficient with a piece of equipment may eliminate some of the safety features to insure ease of use. Having said all this, how does this impact the residents of Bureau County? There has been consistent reporting that most law enforcement officers who are injured by a handgun are injured by their own weapon. Surveillance videos at the state prison level have witnessed career criminals practicing taking a handgun from law enforcement. If a deputy is assaulted and injured by someone taking their handgun, then there is a subject moving amongst our residents who now has a lethal weapon and also has shown the willingness to use the weapon. So, again, HOW COME IT TOOK SO LONG?

As most of you are aware, I have a challenger for the office of Bureau County Sheriff in the February Primary Election. His announcement in the local papers makes the claim that he is a “fiscal conservative”. That is a very popular buzz term in use today, but it also sets off my “Spiderman” alarm senses.

Is a “fiscal conservative” someone who will opt to use budget monies to acquire items that are initially inexpensive but will require replacement in a shorter period of time? Or simply not acquire a needed item? Or allow something to be used that endagers the safety of the community and staff?

Most items in use by law enforcement lead a very rugged life. True, there are items on the market that will meet the needs of the present, but is it wise to purchase them with the realization that they may have to be replaced on a more frequent basis or that they do not provide the level of performance required? If I have to describe my fiscal approach, I would tell you that I will be “fiscally responsible”.

I believe that no law enforcement administrator can provide services to the community using the annual budget only. If the annual budget is the only money being used, the administrator will have to return prior to the end of the fiscal year and ask for more money. The law enforcement community has numerous grants available, however, the grants will not knock on the door and offer themselves. A law enforcement administrator must establish an ongoing and persistent search for those funds. Just stumbling over a grant or acquiring a grant for a pet project is not enough. The Winnebago County, IL, Sheriff’s Department is a perfect example of a relentless pursuit of grant money. That department has acquired millions of dollars of grant money over the past few years. Grants and other sources of funding allow a law enforcement administrator to leverage his annual budget into more buying power that, in turn, allows him to provide the community with better services and gives his staff a level of security not attainable with simply an annual budget.