If you have a police officer in your life, you may sometimes wonder what to get them. Birthdays and other holidays can be challenging for the cop who seems to have everything. Though most people think of thin blue line flag coffee mugs and “blessed are the peacemakers” t-shirts, most cops don’t like to advertise their affiliation off-duty. They’d much rather have something that could be used on every shift to keep them safer, or to make a hard job just a little easier. Here we offer you a guide to the best gifts for your favorite police officer.
Gifts for Police Officers
Cops – all cops, from detectives to K9 officers to bike cops to mounted patrol officers – constantly need to write stuff down. You don’t have to go crazy with a $500 Mont Blanc pen. A good, old-fashioned ballpoint or gel pen will work wonders. The Zebra G-301 is an excellent pen with a smooth, gel rollerball for clear writing. It also has a very durable stainless-steel body. A 12-pack costs around $30 making this a very affordable, yet high-quality, practical gift.
If you want to give something a bit more personal than a box of inexpensive pens, a tactical pen makes an excellent gift! It can serve as both a writing instrument and a self-defense tool in a pinch. So-called tactical pens are generally made of very robust material and are thick enough to get a firm grasp on. They can replace tools like a kubaton and work as a last-ditch impact weapon. The Smith & Wesson Tactical Pen costs around $30, is extremely robust, and takes commonly available refills, making it the perfect gift for a police officer.
The other half of the writing equation is paper – police officers are constantly writing stuff down and need something to write it on. Another really unique gift is a custom notebook cover like these. These unique leather covers can be customized with any law enforcement agency’s badge and would truly be a one-of-a-kind gift. Add in a couple Rite-in-the-Rain notebooks to put in it and this is a gift that will be used on each and every shift. Your police officer will think about you every time they pull out this thoughtful gift.
Functional Gifts for Police Officers
Cops have a lot of stuff to keep organized in their patrol cars. Pens, papers, forms, parking ticket books, notebooks, spare handcuffs and leg shackles, flashlights, batteries, charging cables, cameras, spare ammunition…the list goes on and on. This stuff is constantly being used and replaced. Keeping all this stuff organized is important so it can be quickly accessed when needed, and so it isn’t rolling around all over the car. Keeping it all accessible can be a chore.
An excellent gift for the cop in your life is a seat organizer. A seat organizer secures to the seatback of the passenger seat. Some seat organizers, like this one, are molded, rigid material with specific pockets for specific items. Others are soft-sided nylon, and more versatile, though perhaps at the expensive of some organization. The best seat organizers can also be quickly removed without dumping the contents, in the event the officer needs to put someone in the front seat. This is a really thoughtful gift, and one sure to surprise your favorite police officer!
Another functional (and technical) gift is the Police Box. The PoliceBox is a digital mobility platform designed to assist frontline officers in carrying out their duties. It offers a user-friendly interface that allows officers to access their force’s existing software services and record information without needing to log in to multiple systems or remember several passwords. With the PoliceBox, officers can reduce their time spent at the station and spend more time in the community, much like the original Police Box. By giving this gift, you can aid your loved one in being more productive and efficient, which can benefit their safety and well-being overall.
Outerwear Gifts for Police Officers
Small gifts can go a long way in showing appreciation for the hard work and sacrifice of police officers. Safe Life Defense’s Dexterity Gloves, Ultralight T-Shirt, and Flexfit Hat are all excellent options that any officer would appreciate. The Dexterity Shooting Gloves are perfect for officers since they need to maintain precise control of their firearms while on duty, while the Ultralight T-shirt and Flexfit Hat are something comfortable and stylish that officers can throw on once they’re off the clock! Whether it’s for a birthday, a holiday, or just to say thank you, these small gifts are a great way to show appreciation for the dedication and bravery of our police officers.
Safety Gifts for Police Officers
Guns are a fact of life for law enforcement officers. They have a duty gun, an off-duty gun, maybe a backup gun. As alert as a cop must be on the job, they also have to be able to take the gun off and relax at home. As a cop progresses through his or her career there is a really good likelihood that little ones will come along. With children come new safety concerns about storing guns at home. My girlfriend is no stranger to this and has a 10-year-old whose safety we are very concerned with.
An excellent gift for the cop who is expecting (or already has kids) is a compact, quick-access gun safe. This gives the officer a safe place to store that duty gun when off-duty and hanging out at home. A small safe like the GunVault Multi-Vault Deluxe stores a duty-sized gun with room for a backup gun, and other small, important item. It also allows instant access in the event of an emergency.
Another safety gift we want to recommend is one of Sheepdog Response’s training courses. The focus of Sheepdog Response is to provide tactical training to law enforcement personnel, military personnel, and responsible citizens to help them respond to violent threats effectively. They offer courses on defensive shooting, situational awareness, medical response, and other topics related to personal protection and security, making this the ultimate (and practical) gift for any law enforcement personnel in your life!
The “Coolest” Gift for Police Officers
You’ll forgive the pun here, but the coolest police gift you can give is something to keep him or her – literally – cool. Being a cop is physically hard work. Cops wear constricting uniforms. A duty belt adds a good 15-20 pounds that the average officer has to carry all day. Add in body armor, sturdy boots, a backup gun, and a 12-hour shift can wear you out.
This is especially bad in the summer. Even though an officer might seem to spend all day sitting in a car, the reality is that he or she is in and out of that car. They are moving around on hot asphalt, chasing suspects, constantly being on the alert. All of this takes a toll, especially when wearing a vest that offers protection from bullets. Not only do these vests keep bullets out, but they also keep heat in. All of this takes its toll – in energy and alertness.
The CoolCop is a hose with a fitting at each end. One end fits over the vent of the officer’s cruiser (be it Charger, Crown Vic, Durango, Explorer, Tahoe, or Taurus). The other end is a unique, curved attachment that fits into the neck of the officer’s body armor. When sitting in the car you simply hook the body attachment into your armor, crank the A/C, and lower your body temperature a couple degrees. Being able to cool off between calls for service can mean the difference between being alert and ready for whatever happens, or being tired and sweaty and just trying to get to the end of the shift. The CoolCop would be a wonderful gift for any state trooper, deputy, or municipal officer!
The Ultimate Gift for Police Officers
Being a cop is a dangerous job. Cops are under assault like never before in our nation’s history. Not only is support for the police at all-time lows, but violence against police officers is at unprecedented highs. Something as benign as a parking ticket could escalate into a deadly force encounter. As such, cops wear body armor, day-in and day-out. Body armor saves lives, without questions. Countless lives have been saved by body armor since its introduction, but it has some downsides. Body armor is hot. Body armor is heavy. Body armor is thick and bulky. Body armor is uncomfortable.
The ultimate, most practical gift you could give any cop is body armor that doesn’t suffer many of these downsides. Such body armor does exist: Hyperline Body Armor from Safe Life Defense. At only 0.18-inch thick, Hyperline Body Armor is the thinnest IIIA body armor on the market. It is less bulky than traditional body armor, allowing the officer to function more effectively, comfortably, and look more professional. It’s so thin the police chief might even do a double take to see if your officer is wearing body armor.
This almost makes it some of the lightest body armor available, too. Despite being thin and lite, Hyperline body armor sacrifices nothing in terms of ballistic performance. It exceeds NIJ IIIA performance standards and can withstand multiple hits without compromise.
Hyperline Body Armor is available in several styles. It is available in a tradition vest that is worn under a uniform shirt. It is also available as a “tactical” vest with MOLLE attachment points. Many police departments are now issuing vests that are worn outside the duty shirt while having the appearance of a uniform shirt. Hyperline also offers this style of armor in a variety of colors from Navy blue to Brown, to match any police department’s uniform styles. Hyperline body armor is also available for other first responders, as well.
A set of lightweight, compact body armor is maybe the most meaningful gift you can give the uniformed public servant in your life. This can keep them safe, not only by providing best-in-class ballistic protection, but also by making the hard work of policing a little easier. Being under less physical load reduces cognitive load and gives the officer an edge on the street.
Prices for Hyperline body armor run from $1,078 to $1,308 depending on size and style. This is an expensive gift. Given that it can literally save the life of your favorite police officer, as well make the hard work they do on a daily basis easier, it is absolutely worth it.
