I said I wasn’t going to trash the agency – TDCJ – and I’m not – but sometimes they deserve a rap on the knuckles. One such “rapping” is due for a situation where the agency has trashed me and my co-workers. The situation is the equipment issued for pre-service and yearly in-service firearms qualification.
I really don’t know how to describe this situation other than to say it’s one of the most embarrassing things that has happened to me. The situation is a single piece of equipment issued at the firing range utilized by the James V. Allred Unit. That piece of equipment is a cloth bag – made by offenders, no doubt – that we use to hold the ammunition for the revolver. The bag, flattened out, is about 4 x 6 inches, and is secured to your waist by means of a belt loop.
During my pre-service academy, and for all yearly in-service firearms training, we used the firing range belonging to the Wichita County Sheriff Department. It just so happens that at my pre-service firearms qualification there was also a number of Sheriff Department officers using the opposite end of the range.
The deputies, of course, were decked out in proper equipment for firing range activities. We, on the other hand, had these silly cloth bags hanging from our sides, looking like some “rag tag” outfit from some third-world country. It’s no wonder some of our officers act as such. Now that I think about it, I’ve never seen a third-world trooper with a cloth bullet bag!
I wanted to crawl under a rock and hide! Having been in the Military Police Corps and having retired from the Wichita Falls Police Department, I can honestly say that I’m not used to this kind of “wardrobe malfunction”.
There’s no excuse for using this type of equipment TDCJ! What were you thinking – that this was a great morale booster? There’s no amount of budget woes that can justify this type of equipment. If we have to use this type of equipment, please don’t require us to wear the TDCJ uniform at the range. Maybe no one will know who we are!
Also witnessing this travesty were instructors from Vernon Regional Junior College. I’m sure all witnesses were properly impressed.
I don’t know if this is an isolated Allred Unit problem, or if it’s state-wide. Anyway, it’s not my problem anymore. Hopefully I’m done with in-service training and cloth bullet bags! BTW, I am not in possession of the bag. The photo was taken on the hood of a car at the range.
Now, boys and girls, even with the “bullet bags”, the Allred Unit is still a great career opportunity for many people. I still have to give the agency a “slap upside the head” every now and then!
Maynard