Everything You Wanted to Know About Modern Police Equipment
20 Police Technology terms
This glossary covers several little-known tools that police officers may have. Some people do not know the name of these tools, but in this glossary, you will find out. Some of them are very useful for police officers and may even save their lives.
battering ram
noun
A tool used by police forces to break down locked doors in urgent situations.
Example: The policeman managed to break down the door with the BATTERING RAM and saved the lady.
fr: bélier
bulletproof vest
noun
A vest capable of resisting the impact of a bullet.
Example: This man was shot, but the BULLETPROOF VEST blocked the bullet and saved him.
fr: gilet par-balles
dispatcher
noun
A dispatcher is a communication worker who receives and transmits information to coordinate operations of other personnel and vehicles carrying out a service.
Example: The police officers managed to catch the thief because the DISPATCHER guided them well.
fr: répartiteur
earpiece
noun
The part of a phone, radio receiver, or other aural devices that is applied to the ear during uses.
Example: Despite the sound of gunshots, he managed to hear the call on his phone through his EARPIECE.
fr: écouteur (oreillette)
glass-breaker tool
noun
A glass breaker is a hand tool designed to break through window glass in an emergency. It is a common safety device found in vehicles to aid in the emergency extrication of occupants from a vehicle, as well as in some buildings.
Example: By using his GLASS-BREAKER TOOL, he managed to get out of his car by the window before it caught fire.
fr: outil brise-vitre
k9 unit (canine unit)
noun
A law enforcement officer who handles and uses the skills of police dogs to assist in the execution of certain duties, including drug detection, cadaver location, pursuit and apprehension of suspects, and explosive identification.
Example: The dogs of the K9 (CANINE UNIT) unit managed to find the bomb.
fr: unité k9 (escouade canine)
megaphone
noun
A large funnel-shaped device for amplifying and directing the voice.
Example: The policeman used a megaphone so that the hostage at the top of the building could hear him.
fr: mégaphone
night-vision goggles
noun
An electronic device that allows images to be produced in levels of light approaching total darkness.
Example: Being in total darkness, the policeman managed to find the hostages using his NIGHT-VISION GOGGLES.
fr: lunettes de vision nocturne
onboard computer
noun
Also known as a mobile data terminal, is one type of computing equipment traditionally found in patrol cars. They are mostly used to note information during interventions
Example: The police officer managed to identify the suspect using the information in the ONBOARD COMPUTER.
fr: ordinateur de bord
pepper spray
noun
An aerosol spray containing oils derived from cayenne pepper, irritating to the eyes and respiratory passages and used as a disabling weapon.
Example: The guy's eyes hurt so much because the policeman used his PEPPER SPRAY on him.
fr: vaporisateur de poivre
radar gun
noun
A handheld radar device used by traffic police to estimate the speed of a passing vehicle.
Example: The policeman stopped the red car because he was going too fast. The police officer calculated its speed with the RADAR GUN.
fr: pistolet radar
safety boots
noun
Durable boots or shoes that have a protective reinforcement in the toe that protects the foot from falling objects or compression.
Example: A metal pole fell on a policeman's foot. Fortunately, he had SAFETY BOOTS on.
fr: bottes de sécurité
shield
noun
A broad piece of metal or another suitable material, held by straps or a handle attached on one side, used as a protection against projectiles.
Example: During the riot, the police officers protected themselves with their shields against projectiles thrown by civilians.
fr: bouclier
spike strip
noun
A device or incident weapon used to impede or stop the movement of wheeled vehicles by puncturing their tires.
Example: The policeman used a SPIKE STRIP to stop the car. Its four tires are deflated now.
fr: bande à piquants
swat
noun
The "Special Weapons And Tactics Unit." This group intervenes in situations where there is a high risk of violence and weapon implications.
Example: There was plenty of armed thieves in the building, so the SWAT intervened to stop them.
fr: gti (groupe tactique d'intervention)
tactical pants
noun
Specially designed pants with modifications intended as a versatile everyday workwear for emergency medical technicians, fire service professionals, plainclothes law enforcement officers, security guards, and military/paramilitary personnel.
Example: Police officers wear TACTICAL PANTS because they have lots of pockets and are comfortable.
fr: pantalons tactiques
taser
noun
A weapon firing barbs attached by wires to batteries, causing temporary paralysis.
Example: The policeman shot the thief with a TASER to neutralize him.
fr: taser
telescopic truncheon
noun
A truncheon which extends automatically by hand pressure applied to a button, spring or other devices in or attached to its handle.
Example: He hit the man with his TELESCOPIC TRUNCHEON to neutralize him.
fr: matraque télescopique
to defuse
verb
Remove the fuse from (an explosive device) in order to prevent it from exploding.
Example: The swat has succeeded to DEFUSE the bomb
fr: désamorcer
to hijack
verb
An act of unlawfully seizing an aircraft, vehicle, or ship while in transit; a hijack.
Example: This man is being pursued by the police for having hijacked someone's vehicle.
