A crucial training gap exists: Most departments have plainclothes assignments, such as detectives and administrative command staff, but these officers rarely receive training regarding the myriad of topics associated with plainclothes carry by law enforcement. Additionally, many departments and instructors encourage officers to carry when they’re off duty but fail to train them how to engage, when not to engage and how to identify themselves while they’re off duty. While disappointing, this is hardly surprising. In more than 30 years as a law enforcement officer, I have never received department training for off-duty or plainclothes carry.

It’s a problem

Most law enforcement firearms training consists of going to the range wearing traditional duty gear, carrying full-size duty weapons and performing drills primarily designed for uniformed patrol. But this limits those working plainclothes assignments, and they are missing significant and vital training opportunities. While many departments authorize and encourage officers to carry off duty, and even provide plainclothes assignments with smaller handguns to carry, very few agencies provide training on the use of more compact handguns and the equipment commonly used in plain clothes.

Nearly 45 years ago, the courts began telling law enforcement our training needed to reflect the conditions officers would expect while working. In Popow v. City of Margate (476 F. Supp. 1237 [D.N.J. 1979]), an officer was on foot pursuing a kidnapping suspect. The officer fired his handgun at the suspected kidnapper and missed, but struck Mr. Popow, killing him. In this case, the court said it was easily foreseeable that officers would have to pursue a fleeing suspect (moving) in low light through neighborhoods and other areas with innocent people (non-threats). I believe it’s also easily foreseeable that a plainclothes detective would have to confront a violent suspect using a smaller handgun, drawn from a concealment holster, while not being readily identifiable as a police officer.

Equipment concerns

When it comes to handgun choice, there are many good options available for plainclothes carry. Depending on your operating environment, both semiautomatics and revolvers can be good choices. As law enforcement officers, we train using full-size duty guns. Because of this, for consistency and ease of training, it’s generally a good idea to select a concealed carry handgun using the same operating system as your duty gun.

Smaller and lighter handguns are easier to conceal and more comfortable to carry, but they are more difficult to shoot well. Lighter handguns will have more perceived recoil, resulting in more movement and slower follow-up shots. This brings us right back to that training issue.

There are numerous holsters available for off-duty and concealed carry use. Inside-the waistband (IWB), outside-the-waistband (OWB), ankle holsters, pocket holsters, appendix carry and many other holster types are available. For plainclothes and off-duty carry, I generally recommend IWB and OWB holsters as first-choice options. Whatever style you choose, the holster must be comfortable enough to wear all day, every day. If not, you won’t use it and won’t carry it.

Belt-mounted holsters fit into two categories: OWB and IWB. OWB holsters are more familiar to officers. They also keep the handgun farther away from the body, making them more comfortable. From a shooting perspective, OWB holsters allow better access to the grip for an unimpeded draw. The downside is that OWB holsters can be less concealable and require a cover garment even when the temperature rises.

IWB holsters are more concealable and can be worn with a wide variety of clothing options. These holsters tend to “print” less, reducing the obvious bulge caused by a cover garment draping over your holster and handgun. One consequence of being inside the waistband is that most holsters aren’t conducive to wearing a tucked dress shirt. This can be overcome by choosing the correct holster and learning how to use it. There’s the training thing again.

There is a wide variety of clothing specifically designed for concealed carry. For most situations, clothing that doesn’t scream “Cop!” is going to be your best choice. A notable example would be Wolfhound Clothing, the first dress clothes company dedicated to law enforcement. Wolfhound designs their pants for more than sitting behind a desk. They include an athletic fit that allows you to move, a two-way stretch for comfort, front pockets designed to hold a knife, and an accessory pocket custom fit for a set of cuffs, spare mag or extra cellphone. When it comes to dress shirts, the details make the difference. This includes the shape and size of the armhole, the length of the shirt, and how they designed the yoke for movement and a professional look.

A quality belt designed to hold the weight of a holster and handgun will make carrying a concealed handgun more comfortable and secure. When you invest in a quality holster, make sure you buy at least one quality belt specifically designed for concealed carry. Your handgun will be more secure, and your hips and back will thank you. As important is how to carry a spare magazine. There are several pocket and belt-mounted options available depending on your needs. I’ve always been good about carrying a handgun off duty, but until I discovered pocket carry options for magazines, I rarely carried a spare. Now, I always have at least one extra magazine at all times.

Marksmanship and tactics

Once you decide on a handgun, a holster and clothing options, it’s time to begin training with these choices. Using new and unfamiliar equipment increases the risks of a mishap, so it is best to begin training with your concealment equipment using dry-fire drills. This is doubly important when it comes to holstering, due to the increased chances of unintentionally muzzling yourself. Before you begin, remove all live ammunition from your training area. Ensure your pistol is empty, and then check it again. Once you’ve confirmed your pistol is unloaded, you can begin dry-fire practice.

Once you’re comfortable with your concealment gear in a dry environment, it’s time to hit the live-fire range. Working on marksmanship will be important, but we also need to spend time doing two-hand and one-hand draws and holstering. Whatever we do with our full-size duty pistols, we need to do with our plainclothes gear. This includes drills with reduced time constraints, reloading, target transitions, communicating and positional shooting. But remember, when using concealment gear, there are a lot of good reasons to be fast coming out of the holster, but few reasons to try to be fast back to the holster.

While we’re working on these skills, it’s critically important to practice deploying our law enforcement credentials to prevent the tragedy of “blue-on-blue” shootings. Even working a plainclothes assignment, if we get involved in an arrest or shooting, responding officers may not recognize us out of uniform and out of context. This is even more critical if something occurs outside of our normal duty area. When we’re out of town, there is no reason anyone should recognize us as police officers, so we need to behave accordingly. 

In today’s world, police officers should be carrying off duty whenever, and wherever, possible. Whether at work or at play, to carry in plain clothes responsibly, we need to invest in the proper equipment, clothing and training. Even if our departments fail to allocate the time or money to train officers to carry in plain clothes, we need to take responsibility for our own well-being and train for this reality. We owe it to our friends and family to be prepared for those plainclothes or off-duty encounters.