police baton question

trocadero · Feb 19, 2010

Do Americans say police baton? You know - the sticks that police use when charging into a riot behind their shield-thingies? I need to incorporate a little violence into my WIP and I'm not 100% sure of the lingo

Baton? Stick? Shield?

Thanks!

alleycat · Feb 19, 2010

I just checked with a police forum I'm a member of. They use baton; I'm doing a search now to see if they also use nightstick or just plain stick.

trocadero · Feb 19, 2010

Thanks!

alleycat · Feb 19, 2010

It's looks like baton is the more correct term, but nightstick is often used as well. I suspect older cops use nightstick or stick informally, but I'm not sure.

trocadero · Feb 19, 2010

Thanks - just what I need

alleycat · Feb 19, 2010

If you just using the term in narration, then baton (or control or riot baton) would be the best choice. That's what they're also called by companies that sell them.

PeterL · Feb 19, 2010

It depends on who you talking to. Nightstick, baton, truncheon, and club are all used sometimes.

smcc360 · Feb 19, 2010

The new guys say 'baton', the old timers say 'nightstick', the real old timers say 'billy club', and for a riot, it's 'hats and bats' (helmet and baton).

Stanmiller · Feb 19, 2010

I've heard stick and nightstick used as both noun and verb in conversation.

trocadero · Feb 19, 2010

I think I'll stick with baton. I only need to mention it once. Although the billy club does sound like a ton of fun. Thanks everyone.

Miguelito · Feb 19, 2010

Use a modern weapon: an asp. My cop buddies use them them in their jobs. One snap of the wrist and something barely longer than your hand extends out into something baton-like.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ASP,_Inc.

Sarpedon · Feb 19, 2010

Bart: "Can I see your club?"
Lou: "Its called a baton, son."
Bart: "What's it for?"
Lou: "We club people with it."

Little Red Barn · Feb 19, 2010

Most US police depts. have gone to ASP, a collapseable baton that stays on the utilty belt, whereas the old nightstick - baton (long--bulky) had to be placed on a ring hanging off utilty belt after getting out of the cruiser. They call them ASP's.

alleycat · Feb 19, 2010

Remember though, he's using it in terms of riot gear.

I don't know whether a ASP would be used in that case. Most of the time when I see police on TV during a riot they are using an old-fashioned (long) control/riot baton. I'm not a cop, so I don't claim to be an expert on this.

RJK · Feb 20, 2010

Years ago, we carried a baton made of ash, an inch and a quarter in diameter and about two feet long. We called it a night stick, because they weren't carried on the day shift. A Riot Baton is a little heavier about and inch and 3/8 in diameter and 30 inches long. We also carried a blackjack, an ounce or two of lead, covered in leather with a spring handle and a loop for over your wrist. They were removed from our arsenal after too many lawsuits and when MACE became available. Nowadays, the ASP and MACE are carried by most cops.

Rowan · Feb 20, 2010

I always say "ASP" as that's what DEA issues... plus it sounds cool although some people think you're saying something, er...else. And one guy thought I was talking 'bout snakes.

I even have an ASP defender thing that's basically a mini-ASP with pepper spray! [Clearly, I need to get out more]

On a side note, the local SWAT unit that went out with us on raids carried ASPs too (local PD). It varies by jurisdiction but tactical batons are like guns: matter of personal preference.

Best of luck to you!

RJK: I didn't even recognize you with your new avi!

Little Red Barn · Feb 20, 2010

alleycat said:
Remember though, he's using it in terms of riot gear.

I don't know whether a ASP would be used in that case. Most of the time when I see police on TV during a riot they are using an old-fashioned (long) control/riot baton. I'm not a cop, so I don't claim to be an expert on this.

Ah. For riot, they use a Riot Stick. This is longer, thicker and heavier than a night stick or a baton. TV police is not the same as real-life police. ; )

ETA: I just now noticed you answered that, RJK, perfectly.

alleycat · Feb 20, 2010

Little Red Barn said:
Ah. For riot, they use a Riot Stick. This is longer, thicker and heavier than a night stick or a baton. TV police is not the same as real-life police. ; )

I didn't mean TV dramas, I meant real riots and real cops.

hammerklavier · Feb 20, 2010

Citizens generally do not call it a baton, we call it a (night)stick or (billy)club.

trocadero · Feb 20, 2010

Interesting. I think I'll just describe in terms of how my teen character sees it - she's never seen one before. Thanks everyone for your help

police baton question

trocadero

alleycat

Still around

trocadero

alleycat

Still around

trocadero

alleycat

Still around

PeterL

smcc360

I've Got An MFA In LEO

Stanmiller

trocadero

Miguelito

Filled with optimism. And scotch.

Sarpedon

Little Red Barn

haz own threads

alleycat

Still around

RJK

Sheriff Bullwinkle the Poet says:

Rowan

Little Red Barn

haz own threads

alleycat

Still around

hammerklavier

It was a dark and stormy night

trocadero