Hello Brother,
Im a Copper in Milwaukee that has carried a few good lights over the years. The following is my opinion, as I have put many lights to the test....
1. Stay away from HID lights....too much warm up time and not set up for momentary use. Law Enforcement work requires that your light be "flashed" on and off quickly many, many times a night.
2. I prefer Li-Ion recharable cells due to the flat discharge rate and ability to operate in cold temperatures. Li-ion batts also do not self discharge as other types do.
3. LED lights are awesome, but the long-throw lights dont throw enough light for me, but they are perfect for general lighting tasks.
My current, and favorite, lights for duty are:
Primary and quick access light - Fenix TK11 with a AW protected 18650 carried bezel down in a blade-tech holder on my duty belt, off hand side, next to mag pouch. This light is heavy-duty and built for combat. The 18650 offers 2+ hours per charge and I can simply pop in (2) CR123s should I run it dry. It is very bright and has great color temp. This is my main light for general lighting duties.
High Power - Mag 2C ROP High Output Lamp Assembly(HOLA) with "AW" C cells and mag-clickie tail switch. I have done all the resistance fixes to the switch, installed a Download heat-sink, FM LOP reflector, boro lens, and Mag clickie tail switch. (I prefer tail swiches because I believe I can access them much faster than a side switch.) With this (2) switch set-up I simply turn "on" the side switch and activate the light via the tail switch. This light is bright and offers about 45 minutes of runtime. It blasts through rear window tint and lights up the entire alley when aiming down the middle. This light is carried on my belt, off hand hip, in a Stallion leather open top poly-stinger holder. I also have another ROP 2C HOLA set-up exactly the same in my gear bag in the trunk.
High Power ++ - Mag3C MAG85 with 3 AW C cells. I LOVE THIS LIGHT. It is set-up exactly as the above 2C, but 3 cells and the WA1185 potted lamp. I prefer potted lamps as I feel the are more stable, plus I can use the modified stock switch with a Download heat-sink. This light throws plus it has about 55 minutes of runtime. Surprisingly, the tail-switch on this light is comfortable and not awkward. Depending on my assignment for the evening, I find my self often carrying this light in stead of the 2C, but usually it is also in my gear bag as a back-up search light.
I purchased several Li-ion battery chargers to accomodate my duty lights and find it is NOT a hassle to remove the batteries from the light to charge. Usually I only charge my TK11 and 2C on a daily basis. The back-up lights that are in my bag get charged once a week unless used on duty.
There are brighter moddified lights available, but none that have decent runtime and offer the grip diameter of the Mag C.
Quite often, when searching for a suspect at night, my 2C ROP and Mag85 lights get alot of attention from other Coppers who carry stock flashlights.
The 2C with charger is about $160 and the mag85 about $180.
