Q&A on the News

Q: On the front page of the Metro section on Oct. 24, there was a photo of a Gwinnett County police officer. I’m amazed at the number of items attached to his belt and uniform. I’m curious as to what they are, how/when they are used and how much they weigh. Add a bulletproof vest to the mix and I have to believe all that paraphernalia is not only weighty, but cumbersome, especially in certain situations. — Dan Cowles, Cumming

A: Officers need the free use of their hands at all times, so the best place to carry equipment is on their belts, a police department spokesperson told Q&A on the News.

The most common equipment that Gwinnett police officers carry include a Glock firearm, two extra magazines, a baton, OC (oleoresin capsicum; i.e., pepper) spray and a Taser, which is worn on the opposite side of the firearm.

They also have at least one, and sometimes two handcuff cases, a flashlight, a radio with a shoulder mic, a tourniquet, a case for rubber gloves, a key holder and belt keepers, which hold the outer belt to the inner belt.

In addition, officers typically carry in their pockets a small notebook, pens (usually two), a handcuff key, a body-worn camera and a cellphone, which is sometimes worn on the belt. The ballistic vest also is not seen.

The weight varies from officer to officer, according to the police department. With the gear and items such as the uniform and boots, the average weight is about 25-30 pounds.

Q: A recent report in the AJC explained that Delta Air Lines’ Wi-Fi is not free, but that “messaging” is free during flights. How would I set my smartphone so that I could access free messaging? — Connie Cowden, Hoschton

A: The free messaging is usable in-flight on Delta with regular iMessage, which allows for texting on iPhones/ iPads, as well as Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp.

The apps are free. Delta says travelers should make sure they have downloaded the apps before the flight. The recipients also have to have the apps downloaded.

Delta says words and emojis can be sent, but free mobile messaging does not support sending photos, videos or SMS messages. It also adds on its website: “On flights where Wi-Fi usage is heavier than normal, sending messages may take slightly longer.”

Delta provides these steps to set up the free messaging. To connect, travelers should enable Wi-Fi on their phones and select the DeltaWiFi network. Then launch a browser and type WiFiDelta.com. Next, select the “free messaging” pass. Enter the code and select “start messaging.”