LEO Encounter

[Leatherhead]

Not to get technical, but..... you virtually admitted to breaking the law after he asked you if you knew why he pulled you over. The game was up IMO at that point. You had no "right" not to comply. But, you handled it like a champ, and he probably gave you a break because you made an admission of guilt right from the beginning. What cop doesn't like bikes and guns anyway?

Its not like I admitted to robbing a bank or somethin...I knew why I was pulled over and I had no reason to lie. It obviously helped my situation dont you think?

There is one tiny, tiny, tiny little thing. If you let him disarm you and he accidentally (esp with Glocks) puts one in your leg......

I thought of that, believe me...but It was a risk I was willing to take to ensure the Officer felt safe with me. After turning around and seeing the SWAT lapel pin, I knew he was familiar with Glocks...

 

[StateLine]

...The other big issue is that a total stranger is removing a loaded firearm from your body! What is the level of knowledge about firearms and firearms safety does this person have? What level of knowledge does this person have about glocks? What level of knowledge does that person have regarding certain retention holsters? With all due respect to our LEO brothers and sisters, there are some that come very close to being dangerous to themselves with The limited knowledge they have regarding firearms!...

This is a valid point. Based on my years as a LE firearms instructor, 80% of cops don't really care about guns one way or the other. They are competent with guns as their jobs require. 10% are gun guys. They shoot and own personal weapons. They know how to safely handle firearms in any given situation. And then the remaining 10% should be disarmed immediately and assigned to desk duty! Maybe an appropriate response also would have been "Officer, I want to cooperate and I'm not a threat to you but I don't feel comfortable having you remove a gun from my person. If its ok with you I will slowly unholster it and close it up in my saddlebag until our business is complete". Not sure if this would work every time, but I think it would be the best response.

 

[Leatherhead]

Always keep your DL seperate from your wallet and opposite side pockets of your weapon. The issue always is first they have no legal right to disarm you unless you are legally detained. By giving them "permission ", the legal issue is now gone. The other big issue is that a total stranger is removing a loaded firearm from your body! What is the level of knowledge about firearms and firearms safety does this person have? What level of knowledge does this person have about glocks? What level of knowledge does that person have regarding certain retention holsters? With all due respect to our LEO brothers and sisters, there are some that come very close to being dangerous to themselves with The limited knowledge they have regarding firearms! I'm glad it went well, but I'll take the ticket over voluntarily giving up my weapon!

I appreciate your stand on this situation brother...Thanks for the insight on when I am allowed to refuse to be disarmed. I did worry about his knowledge of firearms and whether or not he knew how to be safe with my Glock...but he showed me courtesy about it, so I gave him the benefit of the doubt and trusted him. After seeing his SWAT lapel pin, I knew I made the right choice.

And I definitely do not have the money for a ticket just to have a legal stand off with him on the side of the road...

 

[Leatherhead]

This is a valid point. Based on my years as a LE firearms instructor, 80% of cops don't really care about guns one way or the other. They are competent with guns as their jobs require. 10% are gun guys. They shoot and own personal weapons. They know how to safely handle firearms in any given situation. And then the remaining 10% should be disarmed immediately and assigned to desk duty! Maybe an appropriate response also would have been "Officer, I want to cooperate and I'm not a threat to you but I don't feel comfortable having you remove a gun from my person. If its ok with you I will slowly unholster it and close it up in my saddlebag until our business is complete". Not sure if this would work every time, but I think it would be the best response.

Good idea for next time...If the cop is a prick, this is probably the way I will handle the next encounter.

 

[StateLine]

Its not like I admitted to robbing a bank or somethin...I knew why I was pulled over and I had no reason to lie. It obviously helped my situation dont you think?

I think what he meant was it was not a random "man with a gun" stop. You had technically committed a crime so it was in fact a detention. Therefore, if the officer had chosen to, he could have made a physical detention while he continued the investigation (running your license and writing the citation). And he could have also at that point legally disarmed you, any refusal would have probably met with an escalation of force. But yes, you absolutely did the right thing. He knew you were speeding, you knew you were speeding. Be an adult and get treated like one. And yes, one asshole cop and this could have gone 180 in the other direction in a hurry. Glad there were TWO cool people on the highway that day.

 

[Woof]

Cool story. I would have probably handled the same.

Just because you have a right to do or not do something, doesn't always mean it's what you should do. Get respect, give respect. If the LEO had been an arse from the start, there might be a reason to handle differently.

 

[Leatherhead]

I think what he meant was it was not a random "man with a gun" stop. You had technically committed a crime so it was in fact a detention. Therefore, if the officer had chosen to, he could have made a physical detention while he continued the investigation (running your license and writing the citation). And he could have also at that point legally disarmed you, any refusal would have probably met with an escalation of force. But yes, you absolutely did the right thing. He knew you were speeding, you knew you were speeding. Be an adult and get treated like one. And yes, one asshole cop and this could have gone 180 in the other direction in a hurry. Glad there were TWO cool people on the highway that day.

 

[thorn]

OP: Well done, sir, I commend you. You were polite, he was professional, and everyone wins.

 

[FlyDawg72]

I honestly don't see how it could have gone any better, other than not be pulled over at all. When cooler heads prevail, the situation avoids undue problems.

 

[mirage243]

This is a valid point. Based on my years as a LE firearms instructor, 80% of cops don't really care about guns one way or the other. They are competent with guns as their jobs require. 10% are gun guys. They shoot and own personal weapons. They know how to safely handle firearms in any given situation. And then the remaining 10% should be disarmed immediately and assigned to desk duty! Maybe an appropriate response also would have been "Officer, I want to cooperate and I'm not a threat to you but I don't feel comfortable having you remove a gun from my person. If its ok with you I will slowly unholster it and close it up in my saddlebag until our business is complete". Not sure if this would work every time, but I think it would be the best response.

Yep, my alltime favorite "cop handling a gun" video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=am-Qdx6vky0

"I am the only one in this room qualified to handle a Glock forty" ......."Fitty Cent and Tupac said so"....