Recommendations Sought: Police Academy Graduation Gift

On Thursday, January 23rd my son-in-law will graduate from the Colorado Springs Police Academy. (Yes, I'm very proud - and nervous for him)

It just dawned on me today that I need to get him a graduation gift. I'm at a loss for what to get him and only have a week to do it.

Some things that are off the table:
1) A back-up handgun. He just bought a backup handgun which he qualified to carry on duty so he doesn't need another.
2) Duty gear. Speaking with a CSPD Lieutenant this evening confirmed that pretty much any gear CSPD Officers do/might use on duty is now being issued to them. (Exceptions: a suspender/harness device that links to the vest and helps hold up the duty belt which helps relieve back strain. Also, when he started at the Academy I bought him the larger handcuff keys which are easy to use with gloves on, so that's out.)
3) Just-in-case knifes. I took this off the table because he'll be carrying a new Leatherman (Christmas gift) and any other knives are more of a personal preference item.
4) Alcohol-based items. He's not really a drinker and has young kids in the home so something like an engraved crystal decanter set would be worthless to him.
5) Larger wall hangings/items. They live in a small home with limited space so something large would be obtrusive and police themed wall hangings in the home would be an ever-present reminder of the job even when he'd need time to just forget about it for a while.

So, any ideas?

If he is a shooter, perhaps a classic Model 10 Smith & Wesson police style revolver (10-5 to 10-8), potentially engraved to honor the event. Negatives are cost and finding a nice one in time.

What about optional armor like side plates? May not wear on duty though (comfort/weight etc.) another option might be a nice e.g IIA up-armored leather jacket for the "off duty" side. Just throwing darts without a lot of thought into it here.

Those negatives are huge plus the one where my wife would sh!t if I spent that type of money....but, damn, I like this idea.

Thinking for another second...

If you could find something like the old sig-tac concealed carry jackets (leather) then send that off for armoring, that would end up being a heck of a nice gift that would last a long, long long time. And most of an officers life is spent without any kind of ballistic protection... so it would get used in more than one way.

(ETA: also good for a motorcycle, among everything else)

I had considered getting him better armor (I've been thinking about that since going to Ark Tactical this past summer), but he and I discussed better armor last week and he's currently content with what will be issued (Shield 616 is really taking care of our officers).

Any idea where one could find a "IIA up-armored leather jacket" that could be here by next week?

A cursory search shows a lot of places online down to a $599 range (ETA: for IIIa actually) - question is how quickly they ship, which depends if they are actually stocked, and I doubt any are - they probably individually armor each one per order based on the limited market. (no first person experience there though). Downside is almost all / maybe all are not going to be CCW compatible. It is possible to buy a CCW jacket and then have that armored - no idea on price, but probably pricey. The Sig Tacs were originally like $250 new, and were awesome for CCW, but they long went bye-bye. (I still have mine). So my recommendation for modern products also lacks first person since mine aren't mfg anymore. The jacket could also be gifted first ,with the armoring contact, pre-paid to send it off so the jacket at least can be received if things looked dire too [shrug].

A really good flashlight. A street cop can never have enough good quality flashlights.

And congrats to him for graduating!

Besides off of those lists:


Set of good pen and pencil. Stuff that will work at -10F temperatures. More belt keepers?
Only thing about belt keepers are you gotta know the belt patterns (bw, plain, nylon, etc).

Quote:

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Originally Posted by OxArt

What about optional armor like side plates? May not wear on duty though (comfort/weight etc.) another option might be a nice e.g IIA up-armored leather jacket for the "off duty" side. Just throwing darts without a lot of thought into it here.

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Excellent idea. Some sort of off duty style.

Not fancy but Donut Operator made a kit of useful stuff that he handed out to cops on his Youtube channel; basic things most of us wouldn't think of.

Most cops are shitty shots. Buy him a case of ammo or a certificate to some shooting training

even if he can shoot, he should train more anyways.

Get him night sights for his back up gun.

Get him a “Not a cop” shirt for sting ops. :)

Maybe this: give him a gift certificate of your own making for whatever amount, that he can redeem when he has some time on the street and figures out what he might want and need after he gets some experience.

I second Bailey Guns suggestion of a good, compact and high lumen flashlight. He might be using one on his duty weapon, but he won't be drawing it for light use all the time. More than likely, he will end up on graveyards the first couple of years and good quality, bright flashlight will come in handy over a number of other things.

I dunno budget, but how about a shot timer, 1000rds of 9, some good target drills like refactor pistol essentials, and a membership somewhere he can shoot.
Edit-Whistling Pines is running a 'transfer from another club, and you pay no initiation fee' special. I dunno how long it's gonna go for.

Maybe get him a gift certificate to attend a really good 1st aid/trauma training class and give him a really good ifak. Not sure about the academy he went to, but I know many police academies skimp on the trauma training.

A big box of bacon from Shamrock (15lbs)

Then put a flashlight and some other stuff from Donut Operator's list inside.

https://youtu.be/jhC-Io56imE
About 5:30 is the breakdown

All great recommendations folks. Probably do a combination of these items.

Small flashlight that fits in a pocket. It's a backup for the bigger light he will have in the car.

Good thermal underwear and/or reflective wet weather gear. There is probably a suggested source for CSPD on what type is acceptable.

A good pair of boots and lots of comfortable socks. Let him pick out what he wants.

Several extra cuff keys for whatever brand of cuffs he is carrying.

An insulated thermos for keeping hot beverages and soup hot for an entire shift plus a few hours.

Cash.

Rechargeable battery powered underlayers.

Cold weather gear. Touchscreen compatible gloves. I’ll ask a buddy of mine what he wishes he had when he first started.

The real secret to staying warm, silk under shirts.

https://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/5161...E&gclsrc=aw.ds

I got a nice range bag on sale for my bday earlier this month at 5.11. I'm thinking you could get him a range bag loaded with a lot of spare magazines and ammo.

I personally wouldn't waste money on anything gun related. The ideas about warm clothes and flashlights will probably get the most use.