A new officer usually gets most of the uniform and duty gear from the academy or the department, so the best graduation gifts are the things they’d buy for themselves, plus one keepsake from the ceremony. A field notebook and an all-weather pen come to under $30 together, and a custom shadow box ships 12 to 14 business days after you approve the artwork, so order that one first.
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Once they’re sworn in, a lot of these brands give them a first responder discount, like 10% at G-Shock and 20% at Leatherman. The new officer verifies their own status, so if you want the discount on a gift, send them the link and let them order it. Prices change, so check the one on your screen before you pay.
For Every Shift
Rite in the Rain Field Interview Notebook ($5.95)
Officers write things down all shift, often outside. The Rite in the Rain No. 104 is a 3 by 5 inch notebook with all-weather paper, a field interview form on each page and the Miranda rights inside the cover. It’s $5.95, so pick up a few.
Rite in the Rain All-Weather Metal Pen ($22.95)
A regular pen quits in the rain or the cold. The Rite in the Rain No. 97 has a pressurized cartridge that writes from -30F to 250F and under water, and it’s made in the U.S. It’s $22.95, and with the notebook it makes an under-$30 gift.
G-Shock DW5600 ($99.95)
The square G-Shock is the classic one. The DW5600UE-1 is $99.95 at Casio. Casio gives first responders 10% off a G-Shock through ID.me, one code every 30 days.
Streamlight ProTac 2L-X Flashlight ($79.99)
A second light for the car or a pocket. The Streamlight ProTac 2L-X is a compact, very bright flashlight, $79.99 at Sportsman’s Warehouse. Some departments have rules about lights carried on duty, so treat it as an everyday light unless they’ve said it’s allowed.
SureFire EDCL1-T Flashlight ($239)
The SureFire EDCL1-T is SureFire’s smallest light of its type, 500 lumens from a single 123A battery, and it’s $239. SureFire gives law enforcement 20% off retail on everything except batteries, but the officer has to call SureFire’s law enforcement sales line and confirm from a department email address, and it ships to the department. You can buy it as a gift at the regular price, or tell them about the discount and let them order it.
For After The Shift
OOFOS OOahh Slide ($59.95)
After 10 or 12 hours in duty boots, the OOFOS OOahh Slide is what they’ll change into. It’s $59.95 at Zappos, and OOFOS gives first responders 20% off and free shipping on orders over $75 through ID.me.
Theragun Relief Massage Gun ($159.99)
A duty belt is hard on the lower back. The Theragun Relief is $159.99 at Target. Therabody takes 20% off full-price products for first responders through ID.me, and it doesn’t combine with other promotions.
YETI Rambler 20 Oz Tumbler ($28 To $40)
The coffee rides in the cup holder all shift. The YETI Rambler 20 oz with the MagSlider lid is $35 to $40 depending on the color, and Sportsman’s Warehouse has some colors on sale from $28. YETI is taking 30% off eligible gear for first responders through ID.me right now, up from its usual 20%.
Darn Tough Merino Wool Boot Socks ($30)
Good socks matter in boots all day. The Darn Tough full cushion boot socks are $30 a pair at Zappos, and Darn Tough gives police, fire and EMT an exclusive discount once they verify on its own discount page.
Carhartt Rain Defender Heavyweight Sweatshirt ($69.99)
For days off, the Carhartt Rain Defender heavyweight sweatshirt is $69.99 at Zappos. Carhartt takes 15% off for first responders through ID.me.
For The Bag And The Car
5.11 Wingman Patrol Bag 39L ($130)
A patrol car fills up with forms, a laptop, a jacket and snacks. The 5.11 Wingman Patrol Bag rides on the passenger seat and keeps it in one place. It’s $130 at 5.11.
Leatherman Wave+ Multi-Tool ($103.99)
The Leatherman Wave+ is on sale at Sportsman’s Warehouse for $103.99, down from $129.99. Some agencies limit blades on duty, so think of it as a tool for the car and home. Leatherman gives first responders 20% off eligible multi-tools through VerifyPass, one code every 365 days.
Garmin Instinct 3 Solar, Tactical Edition ($449.99)
The big gift for a watch person. The Garmin Instinct 3 Tactical charges by solar, has a built-in LED flashlight and a stealth mode, and it’s $449.99 at Garmin.
Oakley Fuel Cell Polarized Sunglasses ($192)
The Oakley Fuel Cell Polarized is $192 at Zappos. Once they’re on the job, Oakley Standard Issue gives first responders up to 50% off select styles plus an extra 15% and free shipping through ID.me, so this is a good one to let them pick out themselves.
Keepsakes From The Ceremony
Some academy classes have their own challenge coin. Ask the graduate or the class coordinator whether there is one, since that’s the coin they’ll want to keep.
Relicwood Custom Police Shadow Box ($390)
Relicwood’s custom police shadow box is $390, handmade in the U.S. with your own artwork, a flag holder and a row for challenge coins. It’s sold as a retirement piece, but it works for a graduation photo and the class coin. It ships 12 to 14 business days after you approve the artwork, or in 7 business days with rush service, so order it well before the ceremony.
Ask Before You Buy These
Holsters, duty belts, handcuffs, weapon lights, body armor and anything that goes on the uniform are issued or set by the department, so skip them. Boots usually have to match a style rule, and some departments pay for them, so a gift card is the safer gift. A badge wallet has to fit the badge, which is oval, round or shield shaped, so find out which before you buy one.
Q&A
Q: What do new officers actually need?
A: Things for the long shift that the department doesn’t hand out: a notebook and pen that work in the rain, good socks, a tumbler and something comfortable to change into afterward.
Q: Can I engrave their badge number?
A: Ask them first. Some officers and departments would rather keep a badge number off things that leave the house. Their name and class year are a safe choice.
Q: What if I don’t know the department’s rules?
A: Stick to things they’d use off duty or in the car, or get a gift card. Anything that goes on the duty belt or the uniform is the department’s call.
More Information:
Prices and discounts change, so check the total on your screen before you pay. For every brand that gives officers a discount, see our police officer discounts page, and for more gift brands, see 45 gift brands with a first responder discount.