The Importance of a Radio Holder for Law Enforcers

Holders are an often overlooked but crucial piece of equipment in the law enforcement and public safety fields. They serve as the ideal house for radio equipment. Officers on the street, however, and those in the field, don’t give them much thought—but by the same token, they know when they’re there, and they know when they’re not. Why is that? Because radio holders play such a critical role in the safety and efficiency of law enforcement personnel.
For police officers and other law enforcement agents, having quick, easy, and secure access to communication devices is vital. To properly carry out their vital public safety missions, officers must be able to quickly and easily communicate with the necessary parties. When situations develop or escalate, a single missed call or alert could mean the difference between life and death.
The many uses of radio holders in law enforcement, including cases where basic holsters may be utilized (magazines, cuffs, and so forth), show that there’s simply no substitute when it comes to easy accessibility and mobility. When needed, law enforcement personnel are able to respond to alerts and requests without a second thought , which is especially important when they have multiple pieces of equipment to access and or secure—and split second timing could make all the difference.
This equipment must be designed to be mobile and accessible at all times, and officers need to be able to reach—while driving. This not only enables them to respond quickly to important calls, but also brings further safety by keeping drivers’ eyes on the road, rather than fumbling with equipment to access the devices they need. Law enforcement officials also benefit from multiple attachment points, giving them the ability to reorganize their equipment at will, while also having multiple options at their disposal. This gives them even more of the flexibility so critical to their role. At augmentedtech.com, you’ll find a selection of mounting tools and accessories to assist officers in securing these devices, no matter what their needs are, and practically any situation.
On the road or off, in a squad car or on foot, radio holders do more for law enforcement professionals than their design may seem to imply—and enhance their overall efficiency, safety, and comfort on the job.

Different Types of Radio Holders

There are several different styles of radio holders available to law enforcement personnel of all departments. However, all police radio holders can be broken down into three major types: swivel style, belt clip and detachable style.
Swivel holsters allow the user to rotate their radio, typically 360 degrees, around their waist. Detachable radio holders or detachable radio holsters cannot be rotated, but are convenient in that they can be stepped out of the radio holder without removing the entire holder from the duty belt. It should also be noted that it is not always necessary to use a police radio holder; some radio microphones come with a belt clip so that officers can clip the microphone directly to their uniform pants; however, this method is not favorable as the officers’ radios are too bulky to simply clip onto their uniform. With the advancements in technology, some officers’ radios are even built into their shoulders or their shoulder patches.
Similar to non-police radio holders, there is a large variety of low-quality police radio holders available on the market that may be too small, too large, uncomfortable, shoddy, and lack functionality. Because police radio holders can vary greatly in size and shape, you need to determine whether the police radio holder you are using is right for your department’s specific police radio model. Fortunately, most manufacturers make holders that are designed to fit specific models of police radios.
If the police radio manufacturer has made an adapter model, then the radio holder design is unique to that specific adapter. If the radio manufacturer has not made an adapter, then the radio holder model will be made to fit the radio of that particular model and some others.
If you ever need to replace your police radio holder, we suggest looking at the same product line from that specific manufacturer to replace your former one. Not only are the replacements generally well-suited for your needs, but you also know exactly what you are getting by purchasing from the same line.

Radio Holder Features To Look For

When selecting a law enforcement radio holder, there are several features you should pay attention to. First, you want to make sure the holder is durable. A durable holder will withstand the elements and the rigors of standard daily use. For example, if you typically work in very wet conditions, or if your duty requires you to go in and out of a patrol car all day, you’ll want a holder built with those particular duties in mind.
The next feature you should consider is the holder’s compatibility with different models of the radio. Some holders will be compatible with several widely used models such as Motorola models DP1400, CP 200, MTP850 and MT2000. This allows officers to switch between radios without having to constantly purchase new holders. However, some holders are compatible with only one model of radio and are unusable with other radios.
Third, you’ll want to look at how easy the holder is to use. Is it easy to slide the radio in and out of the holder? How secure is it? Is it adjustable and does it remain stationary when needed? Getting a visual sense of what the holder looks like and how easy it is to use is the best way to assess this.
Fourth, is comfort. A duty holster for a radio must be ergonomic and allow for easy access and functionality. The last thing you want is a bulky or complicated radio holder that leaves an imprint on your uniform or that gets caught on the door handle as you move between locations.
Lastly, you want to make sure the holder you choose will meet all of the requirements of your day. If you know that you will be using your radio through most of your shift, then the holster you choose needs to accommodate that need.

Popular Brands of Law Enforcement Radio Holders

When it comes to manufacturers of law enforcement radio holders, there are only a handful of serious players in the industry. The top brand name in the law enforcement radio holder business is undoubtedly ASP. ASP is a comprehensive brand that has notable reach into all areas of law enforcement equipment. They have a line of radio attachments such as their universal handheld radio holsters in addition to their popular baton and handcuff products. Another name that is synonymous with law enforcement products is Safariland . Safariland has an extensive product catalog effective for most any law enforcement need. They sell high quality radio holders such as these for the radio communication devices made by many popular brands.
For those looking to use only the best products, there is also Tactical Tailor. Tactical Tailor is a favorite among military and law enforcement units who prefer using advanced law enforcement equipment. Tactical Tailor gear is partially designed for concealed carry purposes. Their products such general purpose tactical pouches can be used to hold most any handheld radio.

Caring for Your Radio Holder

Once you’ve found the radio holder that’s just right for your needs, you want it to last as long as possible! This is where cleaning your law enforcement radio holder comes in. If you take care of your equipment, it will take care of you.
It’s a good idea to check and clean your radio holder on a monthly basis. Here are some steps to follow:
Remove your radio and all mounting hardware from the holder. Clean the inside of the holder, and the two contact points, with a soft cloth or Q-tip. Do not spray the holder with compressed air. This could actually cause permanent damage to your radio.
Inspect the spring clips for dirt or debris, and clean them with a soft cloth or Q-tip. Never submerge spring clips in water, alcohol, or any other liquid. This will usually cause corrosion that cannot be removed.
Inspect the belt straps and attachments. Are they fraying anywhere? Look for signs of damage and clean if necessary. If your straps become worn or damaged, replace them immediately.
Examine the belt clip swivel attachment and the belt clip spring. Are they fraying or rusted? If so, replace them. If the holder is being worn on a duty belt, rather than worn on the body, be sure to check the belt clip attachment as well.
When your radio holder isn’t in use, store it in a separate drawer from your other equipment. Many officers keep it clipped to their car visor, which is a good place to keep it as long as it isn’t getting beat up in the glove box.

New Ideas in Radio Holder Technology

The most notable innovative development in the last decade has been attaching the radio holder to the MOLLE webbing with a beefier hook and loop attachment method. This allows officers to essentially slide a radio holder over the panel webbing on the vest or other MOLLE location to help keep the radio unit in a secure position and away from the subject being transported in a rear cuff position as well as keeping loose equipment from falling out during physical confrontation. The most common way that officers have previously secured LEO radios to MOLLE was attaching the radio to a radio pouch designed for belts. An LEO radio pouch is made to be attached to a duty belt, K-9 Belt or traffic vest. It has a metal, plastic or rubber belt clip on the back that is removable and a D ring to attach a tether. Some of these LEO radio pouches have a metal , plastic or rubber button enclosure and release system that is very common on military radio pouches. The D ring can be used to secure the radio to a tether. Whereas the MOLLE kit radio holder, radio holsters and radio accessory holders allow flexibility in secure positioning of radio in the small of your back via use of MOLLE webbing. MOLLE Systems are more durable than a radio pouch belt system and have higher levels of retention. Radio attachments can be placed anywhere on the MOLLE vest for easy access by either hand. Radio attachments secured on MOLLE give the officer a greater sense of security during physical confrontation or when handling a subject in a rear cuff position. The MOLLE holster and MOLLE radio holders have replaced the radio pouch on the duty belt with MOLLE as the most common way officers are securing their radios for their protection.