20 Feb 02/20/2021
Our Best Police Gloves and Law Enforcement PPE
Police officers swear an oath to serve and protect the communities they serve. They want to keep themselves and others safe – and we're here to help. At MCR Safety, we're dedicated to manufacturing and supplying high-quality gloves to keep officers' hands safe from bloodborne pathogens, cuts, lacerations, puncture wounds, and other injuries. We know that finding the right form of personal protective equipment (PPE) is essential for those working in hazardous conditions, and we want to help you find the gloves you need to do your job safely.
Law enforcement is considered one of the most dangerous occupations. In fact, the profession ranks 12th for cut injuries, with 28.6 injuries occurring for every 10,000 officers. As the Occupational Safety Health Administration (OSHA) reports, officers are exposed to various people engaging with the public on the front lines. When a pandemic is in full force, as was the case with H1N1 (swine flu) in 2009 and the current COVID-19 pandemic, PPE such as gloves, safety glasses, and face masks minimize the health threats faced by police officers.
All manner of injuries can happen to officers on duty, and it's vital to have the right protective gear to help protect against foreseeable hazards. That equipment can also serve other purposes; for example, wearing gloves is necessary for crime scene investigations and to protect hands during severe weather conditions.
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MCR Safety has a wide variety of PPE options suitable for police officers. Our glove styles range from high-quality nitrile gloves to thin cut-resistant gloves specifically designed to prevent cuts and puncture wounds. We're pleased to be able to offer you top-of-the-line products that are sure to protect you on the job. Read on to learn about the different types of gloves and PPE police officers use that MCR Safety provides.
What Gloves Do Police Wear?
Police work is dangerous! There is a constant concern about the numerous hazards police may come into contact with during a shift. Drugs, chemicals, and bodily fluids are just some of the dangers faced. When it comes to finding appropriate gloves, there are several factors to consider. Officers need different types of gloves depending on the application being performed. How do we know this to be true? We've studied several police personnel manuals, including those of the Austin, Miami, and Seattle police departments. In our studies, we put together a shortlist of some of the expected hazard scenarios where gloves should be worn:
- For crime scene investigations and forensic work, thin disposable gloves are needed. An example would be handling a weapon that may be considered as part of the evidence.
- When handling potential sharp objects like blades and needles, officers need cut-resistant gloves. Checking a suspect's pockets when they are taken into custody poses a high risk for officers.
- Handling wet money, especially if the liquid is an unknown substance, requires glove protection.
- Practicing body substance isolation when someone is overdosing on drugs or when blood or bodily fluids are present is an activity where gloves are vital PPE.
- Handling chemicals, such as etching acid used for vandalism on glass means chemical-resistant gloves are necessary.
- When working during the winter months or during extreme weather conditions, warm or waterproof gloves are indispensable.
Police work involves many tasks — it makes sense that it requires a variety of glove types! Below, we'll take you through the seven major types of gloves police officers need: high-quality nitrile gloves, DuPont™ Kevlar® styles, search gloves, leather gloves, tactical gloves, gloves specially made for traffic control, and gloves to protect against extreme weather. All these glove types are necessary PPE for any police officer, and at MCR Safety, we offer a variety of options in each category!
Nitrile Gloves
6015 nitrile disposable gloves
Police officers regularly handle dangerous containments and substances during their investigations. They are also routinely exposed to blood, which puts them at risk of bloodborne pathogens. For risks such as these, strong yet flexible nitrile gloves are an absolute necessity.
When it comes to handling evidence, disposable nitrile gloves are a must for two reasons: to protect the officers from the evidence and protect the officers' evidence. Keeping evidence clean and unaltered from the crime scene is essential to good police work. Using clean and sterile nitrile gloves, police officers can avoid contaminating evidence and avoid being contaminated themselves by traces of any dangerous or contaminated substances.
Potential Evidence
MCR Safety currently offers over 40 different disposable glove options, and we continue adding innovative styles like our new 7036 tri-polymer design. Still, by far, the most preferred choice for police work is our black nitrile disposable glove. And, to confirm that statement, all you have to do is read the Denver Police Department's requirements for wearing gloves.
MCR Safety's lineup of black disposable gloves
Our black nitrile gloves are the strongest — hands down. It's true! The extra pigment adds to the gloves' strength and is less likely to be punctured than any other color. You can check out the test data from our ITC lab that supports this fact.
In addition to the protection they provide, many police officers prefer black gloves for their ability to help them blend in at night. It's no surprise that black gloves are so popular. Across the many industries that we serve with our high-quality PPE — and particularly for the police — black stands out as having incomparable benefits. For more information on our black nitrile gloves' many uses and advantages, check out this blog post where we highlight them!
DuPont™ Kevlar®
There's nothing better than wearing a pair of gloves made with DuPont™ Kevlar® to protect against cuts and lacerations. The material is highly regarded for its strength and protection and has been for over 50 years. MCR Safety proudly makes gloves and sleeves using Kevlar® fiber to create the ultimate protection for today's law enforcement.
Police officers have one of the most hazardous jobs out there, and they regularly face threats such as sharp objects. Our DuPont™ Kevlar® offerings are exceptional and help protect hands from cuts, abrasions, puncture wounds, and essential police work qualities. Check out the 9388NF or the PD3952. These are two of our newest products, and we're incredibly excited about them! We're confident that these gloves will offer you the highest standard of protection.
9388NF provides a featherweight feel and excellent A6 cut performance.
For comfort and flexibility, you can't do better than the 9388NF. These gloves were designed to be both protective and comfortable to wear. With an 18-gauge black Kevlar®/steel shell, quality cut resistance, nitrile foam palms and fingertips, and a reinforced thumb crotch, these gloves will protect your hands from cuts or lacerations. And, the touchscreen-friendly fingertips allow officers to continue handling their electronic devices without taking off their gloves.
If you're looking for something even tougher, check out our PD3952 gloves. These featherweight gloves, similar to the 9388NF, represent the height of impact- and cut-resistance technology. With a Kevlar® steel shell and tire tread TPR on the back, fingers, and thumbs, you can work confidently knowing that your hands are shielded on the front and back.
Keep in mind, MCR Safety carries hundreds of cut-resistant gloves. Our Cut Protection page will help you find other glove options.
Search Gloves
Police work is not always tidy. Officers often conduct searches of suspects or through crime scenes, and this can be extremely hazardous work. Aside from contaminating any evidence they find, officers can find themselves facing severe injuries from blades, sharp objects, and needles. To help avoid serious hand injuries during search activities, officers look to puncture-resistant gloves for protection.
So, what are the best puncture-resistant gloves for police? For the highest standard of puncture-resistance, we have two recommendations: our ML300A and PD4900 gloves. Both are incredibly well-designed and thoroughly tested, and they've proven to be highly effective against significant injuries.
The ML300A - MCR Safety's Needle Stick Protection Glove
Before we highlight the ML300A, let's first clarify: there is no such thing as needle-proof gloves for conducting searches. Our needle-resistant glove is layered multiple times with advanced material developed to resist needles. However, it is not needle-proof, and you should be cautious of any glove that makes claims of being "-proof" to anything, whether that is fire, needles, or cuts.
Our ML300A Cut Pro® mechanics gloves are cut-, needle-, and puncture-resistant due to the Alycore® material utilized in their construction. The fingers, palms, and sides are equipped with a needle-stick protection zone, especially adept at protecting police officers from punctures and infections from hypodermic needles.
MCR Safety's PD4900 is lined with the highest level DuPont™ Kevlar® shell, and scores the highest levels for both cut- and puncture-resistance.
The Predator® PD4900 mechanics gloves are highly visible, cut-resistant, puncture-resistant, and provide ANSI Level I impact protection. With tire tread TPR on the back, fingers and thumbs, and a Kevlar® cut-resistant liner, these are some of the toughest gloves out there for conducting police work. It's no wonder these are our most highly-rated gloves for protection against cuts and punctures!
Leather Gloves
Leather has a sacred and ancient history. For thousands of years, leather has been the go-to material for clothing, shelter, warmth, weapons, and protection against the elements. Leather has provided man with a second skin that is unlike any other material found on the planet.
It's also been an essential companion to many police officers on the job. Leather gloves are strong and incredibly protective. One of the leather gloves' only weaknesses is the ability to withstand being cuts and lacerations. However, over the last decade, we've outfitted numerous leather styles with a cut-resistant shell. Check out all the types we offer below.
You can't do better for heavy-duty leather gloves than our newest offering — our PD43612 gloves, shown above. Like the PD4900 mentioned in our previous section, these gloves have achieved the highest cut-resistant score possible — ANSI A9 cut level and puncture level 5. In a word, these gloves are excellent, and they offer top-quality protection for any police officer.
Tactical Gloves
Another necessary leather glove type important to police officers is the tactical glove. In fact, tactical gloves are an essential part of any officer's PPE. They provide comfortable protection of the hands and provide excellent tactility and dexterity for handling weapons and other equipment.
Police officers and members of tactical SWAT teams wear tactical gloves because, among other things, they protect against the small cuts and abrasions that can come with the job. While these types of injuries wouldn't usually present a huge problem, in extreme environments that don't allow immediate medical attention, cuts and abrasions can quickly become infected.
For the ultimate tactical glove, we recommend our excellent 963 gloves. These gloves feature a super-stretch knuckle region for greater flexibility. The palm padding and unique grip on the index finger and thumb add to this glove's protection and versatility. Further, the reinforced index finger and thumb crotch add durability in the high-stress areas. The 963 is Military 499 Tan in color and offers features and comfort that make this the glove you will look forward to wearing.
Traffic Gloves
Be seen and be safe! Our high-visibility gloves are perfect for officers on the job as traffic controllers — they provide maximum visibility and protection from all weather conditions. These gloves have reflective stripes on the backs to increase visibility.
The 921 and 36111 are two of our most requested hi-vis gloves, and they are perfect for traffic work.
921 – Features Reflective Striping on Premium Black Cowhide
36111 – Features Reflective Stripes on Premium Grain Goatskin
Our 968 glove features premium-quality grain goatskin leather insulated with a warm Thermosock® lining for a cold-weather option. It also features a fluorescent lime back and is topped off with two reflective stripes across the back and three fingertips. A hook and loop closure guarantees a snug fit around the wrist. These gloves will ensure you're seen even in low light or harsh weather conditions. Be warm, be seen, and be safe!
Lastly, some officers still prefer wearing white gloves for traffic duty, as shown in the image that introduces this section. A white color easily stands out and gets drivers' attention, so if white is your preference, MCR Safety has those gloves, too!
Winter Gloves
A police officer's job is year-round, and at MCR Safety, we know hard work doesn't stop when the weather turns rough. When officers face cold conditions, winter-lined, insulated gloves are perfect for keeping hands warm and protected. Below, we'll highlight some of our new winter work gloves developed to meet your cold-weather needs: PD3954, PD3951, and N9691.
PD3954 – Cut, Impact, and Winter Protection
The PD3954 Predator® insulated mechanics gloves provide excellent insulation and high visibility while also offering tough cut resistance. It features a 13-gauge gray ARX® aramid cut-resistant shell insulated with an acrylic terry liner. The palm side features an HPT™ coating, adding durability, abrasion resistance, and gripping power in wet or dry applications. TPR padding on the back of the PD3954 gloves provides ANSI level 2 impact protection, helping to keep an officer's hands protected from bumps and bruises.
PD3951 – Impact and Winter Protection
The PD3951 gloves also give you superior insulation, visible contrasting colors, and impact protection. These gloves incorporate a Ninja® Ice shell, which features a 15-gauge black nylon shell insulated with an acrylic terry liner. They also include the same palm side HPT™ coating and TPR padding on the back as the PD3954.
If you're looking for a non-impact, cut-resistant winter option, look no further than the N9691 gloves. These insulated gloves feature a 15-gauge nylon/glass cut-resistant shell with a 7-gauge acrylic terry interior liner. The black HPT® coated palm and fingertips offer excellent grip and dexterity while helping to repel liquids. For officers needing to maintain grip in cold, wet, winter conditions, this is the glove for you.
Police Safety Vests
Police officers require multiple types of PPE to help protect them while on duty. In addition to gloves, hi-vis safety vests are a must. Our Public Safety Vest, PSV02, has "police" boldly imprinted onto the vest's front and back to distinguish your role on the scene.
Polarized Safety Glasses
Eyes deserve protection, too, and our polarized safety glasses have always been popular amongst those in law enforcement. For that reason, we have included an image below that showcases all our polarized styles in one spot.
Protecting Law Enforcement!
For those officers looking for superior protection while at work, MCR Safety has you covered! Our wide variety of gloves and PPE are sure to keep you warm, protected, and comfortable so you can focus on what you do best — the police work that keeps us all safe and secure.
We welcome any comments, feedback, or suggestions for how we can best protect people at work.
For over 45 years, MCR Safety has proven to be a world leader in gloves, glasses, and garments. Whether it's on the shop floor, an oil rig, a construction site, or shooting outdoors, we are there to provide solutions to workplace (and recreational) hazards. It's all part of our commitment to protect people.
No matter your industry, we have the personal protective equipment you need.
Learn more about MCR Safety by checking out our most recent video. For more information, browse our website, request a catalog, find a distributor, or give us a call at 800-955-6887.
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