The Weapons Training Unit shall post and maintain the specifications for all on-duty and off-duty holsters on the Weapons Training Unit’s intranet website. All personnel are responsible for achieving and maintaining proficiency with any holster that is used on-duty or off-duty. They must also be aware of the holster’s abilities and limitations. If armed personnel elect to carry a holster other than Department-issued, they should select a holster based upon the manner in which the handgun will be carried. Any questions or concerns should be directed to the Weapons Training Unit prior to deploying any optional holster.
All holsters shall fully cover the handgun’s trigger guard opening when the weapon is holstered.
Armed personnel who request the Department replace a stolen, lost, or damaged issued duty holster will, upon approval, be issued the holster currently issued by Central Supply/Logistics.
Duty Holsters
A duty holster is a pistol holster specified by the Weapons Training Unit to be worn on a duty belt.
Armed uniformed personnel wearing a duty belt shall wear either the Department-issued holster or a Department-approved optional duty holster. Optional duty holsters shall be purchased and maintained at the Department member’s expense. When a duty belt is worn, the duty holster finish (e.g., basket weave) shall match the duty belt. Personnel electing to use an optional duty holster are responsible for achieving and maintaining proficiency with the equipment. Holsters that are worn on a duty belt must retain the pistol if the holster is held upside down.
Tactical Holster
Tactical holsters include those holsters that are suspended from the belt by a flexible strap and secured to the thigh by one or more additional straps. Armed personnel wearing external body armor or entry vests may wear a tactical holster with the approval of their current unit commander. A list of tactical holster specifications and fitting guidelines will be maintained on the Weapons Training Unit’s intranet website.
Tactical holsters shall not be worn while performing routine law enforcement duties. Personnel authorized to use tactical holster are responsible for achieving and maintaining proficiency with the equipment.
Other On-Duty Holsters for Sworn Personnel
Holsters, other than a duty holster as described above, may be used on-duty by sworn personnel who carry an authorized handgun when duties do not require a duty belt to be worn. These specifications shall be listed on the Weapons Training Unit’s intranet website. These holsters must cover the trigger guard and trigger when the handgun is fully inserted into the holster and must retain the pistol if the holster is held upside down. A holster worn inside the waistband is prohibited while in uniform. All personnel are responsible for achieving and maintaining proficiency with any holster deployed on-duty.
Other On-Duty Holsters for Plain Clothes Personnel
On-duty plain clothes personnel may wear any of the following holster types:
Sworn personnel should be cognizant of being readily identifiable as a peace officer while on-duty, in plain clothes, and carrying a handgun. At a minimum, the Department badge should be conspicuously worn on the belt closest to the handgun and visible from the front when a concealing garment is not being worn. If the badge is not worn on the belt, it should be worn on a neck chain visible from the front.
A list of on-duty holster specifications for plain clothes personnel will be maintained on the Weapons Training Unit’s intranet site. All personnel are responsible for achieving and maintaining proficiency with any holster that is used on-duty.
Back-up Handgun Holsters
Sworn members electing to carry a Department-authorized handgun as a back‑up handgun on their person, shall carry the firearm in a holster. Members shall select a holster that retains the handgun securely for the manner they intend to carry it. The holster shall completely cover the handgun’s trigger guard when the handgun is holstered to prevent unintended movement of the trigger. The handgun and holster must be completely concealed from view. A list of back-up handgun holster specifications will be maintained on the Weapons Training Unit’s intranet website. All personnel are responsible for achieving and maintaining proficiency with any holster that is used for a back-up handgun.
Off-duty Handgun Holsters and Off-body Carry
Sworn members who elect to carry a Department-authorized handgun off-duty shall do so in a holster or in an off-body carry method such as a purse, pouch, or bag. The handgun shall be concealed from view.
Off-duty handgun holsters shall completely cover the handgun’s trigger guard when the handgun is holstered to prevent unintended movement of the trigger. The holster may be of any type previously listed above.
When a handgun is carried in an off-body carry method, the handgun shall be placed in a compartment intended to hold a firearm and free of any loose items that could cause unintended movement of the trigger. Refer to MPP section 3-03/210.01, Transportation of Firearms.
A list of off-duty handgun holsters and off-body carry specifications will be maintained on the Weapons Training Unit’s intranet website. All personnel are responsible for achieving and maintaining proficiency with any holster or off-body carry method that is used on-duty or off-duty.