Police Gear Storage
How to Design the Best Police Lockers for Law Enforcement
Choosing the best police lockers for officers and staff is a major consideration when designing or renovating a police station. Because lockers are used multiple times every day over the course of many years, and because taxpayer funds are usually used to fund renovations or upgrades, it’s important to invest in high-quality police lockers that will stand up to years of daily use.
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Here are the Top 10 Considerations for Designing Police Lockers:
Locker Size
Determining the ideal locker size for police lockers is a balancing act: you want to optimize space in the locker room while also being sure there’s enough room inside each locker for officers’ gear. You also want to be sure there are enough lockers for current and future needs. It’s important to consider the overall police locker room layout when determining the dimensions of individual police lockers.
You also need to consider the items that each officer will need to store.
The best way to do this is to gather up the items that need to be stored in lockers and measure them in all dimensions. Here are the most common items that need to be stored in police lockers:
- Uniforms on hangers
- Duty belt
- Shoes
- Workout gear
- Towel
- Toiletries
- Personal electronics and chargers
Depending on storage practices elsewhere in the facility, officers might also need to store:
- Radio, body camera, and other electronics (including chargers)
- Forms and other paperwork
- Taser and other weapons
Based on our experience and sales records, here are the most popular police locker sizes:
Single Door
Single Door with Drawer
Single Door with Bench Drawer
Double Door with Bench Drawer
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ADA Compliance
Here’s an overview of the Americans with Disabilities Act requirements that apply to individual lockers:
If the clear floor space only allows forward approach to an object, the maximum high forward reach allowed is 48 in (1220 mm). The minimum low forward reach is 15 in (380 mm).
If the clear floor space allows parallel approach by a person in a wheelchair, the maximum high side reach allowed shall be 54 in (1370 mm) and the low side reach shall be no less than 9 in (230 mm) above the floor.
These ADA-compliant police lockers are located near the entrance of the locker room and have unobstructed access.
Durability
Police lockers are a taxpayer investment, and they’re expected to last for around 20 years. Make sure your officers’ transitions from home to duty and back again are as pleasant as possible with sturdy, well-built lockers. Look for double-walled steel doors and welded construction to ensure that your new lockers will withstand years of daily use.
Electrical Integration/ Charging Stations in Police Lockers
Charging stations inside police lockers help keep officers prepared. In-locker charging stations are convenient for charging personal devices during the work day and for charging work devices during off hours.
Ventilation
If proper ventilation is a top priority, consider installing lockers with HVAC integration and louvered doors. Louvers in the locker doors permit the entry of fresh air, while ducts that are concealed under the lockers’ sloped tops draw air through the lockers and out of the building. Even if lockers aren’t integrated with your building’s HVAC system, steel lockers with louvers or diamond-mesh perforations permit ventilation while also maintaining security.
Police Lockers with Integrated Benches
If space is at a premium in your locker room, retractable benches are the best option for providing seating. Officers and staff can pull out the small benches as needed, then slide them back into the locker and out of the way. We also offer police lockers with integrated benches. These are usually installed in conjunction with lower drawers for storing boots and body armor.
Police Lockers with Drawers
Drawers provide a separate compartment for boots and other gear. They can be the same depth as the locker, or, if extra drawer capacity is needed, drawers can extend into the aisle. These types of drawers are typically topped with a bench to allow the space to serve as seating as well as storage.
Drying Rack for Body Armor
Officers’ lives depend on their body armor, so help them take good care of it. Best practices for storing body armor include laying it out to completely dry between shifts.
Locking Interior Compartments
Provide an extra layer of security for officers’ cash, personal weapons, and other valuables with a locking compartment inside each locker. Interior compartments can be secured with a padlock.
Lockers with Sloped Tops
Although lockers can be ordered with flat tops, sloped tops are a popular option because they prevent people from storing shoes and other items on top of lockers and keep the locker room looking tidy.
Looking for more information on police locker room design, including funding tips and best practices?
What's Next
Police Storage Checklist
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