You use field-expedient restraints instead. If a suspect has a cast on their left forearm, for example, you can cuff their right wrist to their belt and tie the left arm down with something else. More likely, you’d use thumb-cuffs, zip-ties, or whatever you needed to secure the prisoner until they could be transported. S&W makes extra-large cuffs for such situations, but I don’t know how many departments have them readily available.
Are thumb cuffs a commonly carried item? I’m a gadget person myself, and if I were a police officer considering how lightweight and small they were I’d always carry a pair just in case.
Back when I knew lots of cops, almost every one of them carried a set on their belt.
Sorry if I was unclear. You don’t put handcuffs on that arm.
There might be liability issues. The police are generally required to only use officially approved equipment. If they use their own personal equipment they might be held personally liable if the suspect claims he was injured during the arrest.
While we are on the subject, how do you search a cast on a suspect in the field? I’d assume an arm or leg cast would offer a great place to conceal a knife.
Just kick them in the nads every time they seem to get their breath back. You don’t need cuffs, and you don’t have to worry about hidden keys.
In many departments, there are lists of ‘officially approved’ but non-issued equipment. Meaning department-approved, but you have to buy them yourself if you want to have them.
Sometimes this even extends to guns. The department may have a few approved handguns, but only supply a particular one (usually the cheapest). If an officer prefers another of the listed ones, he can obtain it, but will have to pay the price difference himself.
Having these listed as officially approved will limit these liability problems.
Practically speaking, you can’t search a cast in the field. Which makes them excellent places to hide something.
I’ve never known anyone to carry them, but they were available in the booking room/holding cell area, and in the equipment bay of the transport wagons.
That’s how it was with the department I retired from. It’s not that we didn’t like the weapon they issued (a Sig) but the department forbade carrying it off duty except to/from work (hey, it’s their gun, they can tell tell you what you can or cannot do with it). So most officers carried their own weapon on as well as off duty. After I retired I took a part-time gig with another agency and was required to supply my own firearm. Cool thing is, I can carry from a huge list of makes, and calibers. The department does supply ammo, though.