The Bail Out Bag

The new MAXPEDITION Active Shooter bag makes an excellent bail out bag for the patrol officer.

The unpredictable nature of police work requires cops to carry a lot of equipment and paperwork in their cars. You never know what kind of calls you will get on your shift, so you have to bring everything you might need. Of course, you never know what you may need on any given call. That’s one of the reasons a police officer’s duty belt has more gear than Batman ever had on his belt.

There are some calls that you know are going to require more than the average effort. Calls such as barricaded subjects and active shooters may pop up unexpectedly, but most of the responding officers will have the chance to grab an extra item with them when they get on scene: the bail out bag.

What is the bail out bag?

The bail out bag is a small to medium sized bag that an officer can stock with less commonly used items that may be of great benefit on calls that fall outside the officer’s routine workload.

Think of the bail out bag as a supplementary bag of tricks that might help in an extended shooting, prolonged perimeter position, or any incident that would require immediate action without time to return to the patrol car for more gear.

For example, let’s say you were dispatched to a pair of active shooters in a high school. When you arrive, you have your pistol with two extra magazines, a back-up gun, and a shotgun or carbine to carry into the fight. Your shotgun probably has four rounds plus five more in a side saddle (if so equipped), while your carbine may have one extra magazine. Sounds like a lot of firepower until you get several minutes into the battle and realize you are burning ammo faster than you could have imagined. If you had a bail out bag, you could have extra shotgun ammo or a couple of extra carbine and pistol mags. You could also have some first aid gear, such as a clotting agent and trauma pads in case you or your partners take rounds.

The 5.11 Bail Out Bag offers some very nice features for less than $50.

Maybe the active shooter scenario seems a little extreme. Try this example. A drive by shooting happens in your jurisdiction and a witness gives you a valid tag # and vehicle description. A check of the DMV database yields the registered owner’s address with a physical description that matches your suspect. You and other officers respond to the house and set up a perimeter. Your position requires you to stand in the summer sun for two or three hours before the suspect finally agrees to come out. Your bail out bag containing a bottle of water and a granola bar would help keep you refreshed, and maybe keep you from suffering from heat exhaustion.

So, what kind of bag is good for a bail out bag? This is highly dependent on you. You have to find something that is comfortable, works with your normal duty gear, and holds what you need it to.

5.11 makes a bag called the Bail Out Bag which is set up with pouches for six AR magazines plus other compartments. 5.11 also makes the Push Pack, which is slightly smaller than the Bail Out Bag, but may be easier to use for some people.

MAXPEDITION also makes several bags that would work well as bail out bags. Just released is the Active Shooter bag (pictured above) that comes in models with magazine pouches on the front or with MOLLE-type webbing for a custom set up. I also like the Jumbo Versipack, but there are smaller and larger packs available depending on your needs.

What do you carry in a bail out bag? Excellent question, and again this depends on you and your needs. Here is a brief list of things to consider:

extra long gun magazines/ammo
extra pistol magazines
bottle of water
snack bar (nothing that will melt in a hot car!)
bottle of Tylenol or Advil
lip balm
small, back-up flashlight like the Fenix L2D or Streamlight Strion
chalk, grease pencil, or marker for marking doors of rooms searched, etc.
wedge to prop open doors
paracord
blood clotting agent, trauma pads
100 mph tape
small bottle of sunscreen
insect repellent

The fact of the matter is your bag can contain anything that might make your job easier in unusual circumstances. You know your area, and what will work for you. Here in Florida, I am unlikely to need any of the small chemical handwarmers. Up in Maine or Michigan, you might want to include them (at least in the winter months).

Please chime in and add your own suggestions on what kind of bag you like, and what you carry in your bag.

Stay safe!

Bio
Latest Posts

Richard

Publisher at BlueSheepdog

Richard was a police officer and trainer with experience as a patrol officer, field training officer, court officer, corporal, sergeant, lieutenant, watch commander and commander of a field training and evaluation program. Currently, Richard spends much of his time testing and writing about guns and shooting products.