Is it as striking to anyone else when watching cop shows from the '60s and '70s how unadorned the cops are? There is a noticeable lack of tactical equipment, at least that is the way it seems to me. I can't help noticing when watching Adam-12 just how spartan Malloy and Reed are attired and equipped.
When did cops start becoming heavily armed? Did it start with the Steve Forrest series SWAT?

I think times were safer back then. The police kept most of their equipment on their belts back then, known as a John Brown.