LEO Courtesy

[Bayouhunter]

After four hours driving into work last night in Port Fourchon, La. I got careless about one mile from where I was joining the boat. I had stopped on the side of the road to dig out my TWIC card to enter the port. Harbor Police pulled in behind me and flashed his lights as I was getting back into my truck.
So I waited and he walked up asking if I knew how fast I was driving? Telling the truth I told him no I had no idea. That I had stopped to retrieve my TWIC card from my luggage. Well stupid me 65 mph in a 45 mph zone. After showing him my driver's lic, Alambama Pistol permit, vehicle registration, insurance & TWIC card he asks if I had a firearm in my vehicle. Sticking to the truth I told him yes it was under the fold down console in a holster. He asked me to get it but I told if he didn't mind to just reach in and get it warning him it was cocked locked. He did saying he would go run my license and get right back to me. Five minutes later returned my pistol still loaded telling me to slow down and he would not write a ticket and let me go with a warning. He asked what boat I was going to telling him the name he told me to have a good night and slow down and be safe. I thanked him and drove the last mile into work. My first traffic stop in the state Louisiana in two decades. The officer could not have been more polite, not pushy or threatening. Cautious but not afraid of a concealed carry permit holder with loaded firearm. I wish my last stop in the city of Mobile had been as pleasant. I've got to watch that Dodge 2500 a little closer 65 In a 45 not realizing it. Could have cost me hundreds of dollars.

 

[wolfsong]

Gee, who'da thunk it - a decent cop!

 

[wheelgun1958]

Gee, who'da thunk it - a decent cop!

It's the rotten apples that affect the entire bushel. Most are good people.

 

[welder]

Good ending, a good cop and a good break for you. That ticket, if you are like me, would have ruined my day and the next several. I'm glad he was feeling charitable.

Reign that big Dodge in a bit!! :lol:

 

[Jim Puke]

If he was so polite....WHY...did he HAVE to get your firearm?

Were you AFRAID of him because he was cop with a LOADED firearm on HIS SIDE?

Why should he have been afraid of you, with a loaded gun closed up inside a vehicle that you were standing outside of?

I DO NOT see this the say way that you do...this is harassment, to me. He had NO reason to retrieve your firearm other than the fact that you were honest with him and he could.

This kind of treatment of law abiding, licensed citizens is the very reason that have little esteem for law enforcement.

 

[WendyZXZ]

If he was so polite....WHY...did he HAVE to get your firearm?

Common sense and a thought towards staying alive and getting home to his family. Until he, or put yourself in his position, runs everything through would you leave a pistol with someone who is an unknown element? He has no idea that I am just a traveler with a permit, no warrants, a law abiding citizen, or someone with a permit who 12 hours ago, or any length of time ago, committed a felony.

 

[Jim Puke]

If he was so polite....WHY...did he HAVE to get your firearm?

Common sense and a thought towards staying alive and getting home to his family. Until he, or put yourself in his position, runs everything through would you leave a pistol with someone who is an unknown element? He has no idea that I am just a traveler with a permit, no warrants, a law abiding citizen, or someone with a permit who 12 hours ago, or any length of time ago, committed a felony.

B S...B S...he did this because he could...heard this old argument until I am sick of it.

 

[WendyZXZ]

If he was so polite....WHY...did he HAVE to get your firearm?

Common sense and a thought towards staying alive and getting home to his family. Until he, or put yourself in his position, runs everything through would you leave a pistol with someone who is an unknown element? He has no idea that I am just a traveler with a permit, no warrants, a law abiding citizen, or someone with a permit who 12 hours ago, or any length of time ago, committed a felony.

B S...B S...he did this because he could...heard this old argument until I am sick of it.

It's all good. Opinions do vary.

 

[blume357]

He probably just wanted to check it out and see what kind it was... might have even unloaded it and checked the trigger action.

I've had the same thing happen... in S.C. only state troopers can ask to 'take' your firearm... the irony is that when I was asked, I asked if I could unload it first and he said sure. So, I handed him my unloaded Ruger P95, what he did not realize was I had a loaded Sig in the center console.... that I did not have to tell him about... This is all legal in S.C. the the last stop the state cop asked where the pistol was and I told him (we were outside of the vehicle) and he checked it... left it on the seat ... and then told me to put it back and get in the vehicle (it was cold) and he went back to his car to write me the warning.

Even though I question authority and think sometimes LEO's go too far... most I have met were decent folks... the first thing I do in any situation like this is treat them with respect. Unless shown other wise, the deserve it for the job they do.

 

[powder smoke]

The part I do not understand is, Why in heavens did he have to handle your gun.
You had a permit! Wonder if he dropped it even worse keep it. Permit should be enough. ps

 

[BlkHawk73]

Treat them with respect and courtesy, like you should anyone else and things go smoothly. Come out with an attitude and be disrespectful, they, like anyone else, will return the same. Just common sense.

 

[Mobuck]

"If he was so polite....WHY...did he HAVE to get your firearm?"
I don't think firearms confiscation should be part of "doing a license check". Fortunately, I live in a "don't tell" state.

 

[Tensaw]

Good ending. If the officer was arrogant he probably would have written you a ticket - 65 in a 45 is not "just over the limit"

I may have told this story before. I am a real estate agent. One of my fellow agents called me an asked if I could help him since he was 65 miles away at the time. We had a house listed and a young thief stole the outside A/C unit and tried to sell the copper to the local metal scrap yard. Unfortunately for him a neighbor saw him and called the Mobile County Sheriff's office. They arrested him and put the destroyed A/C unit in the back of the Sheriff's truck and wanted someone to come pick it up. So I met the detective at his office. He said that he needed to make a copy of my driver's license to finish up the paper work. When he returns he says, "Sir I see you have a pistol permit." I carry my pistol permit under my driver's license in my wallet and he saw it. And I responded, "yes sir I do." (Thinking to myself, where is this going?). He puts his hand on my shoulder and says, "sir in 35 years of law enforcement I have never had a problem with someone that has a permit. It's always with the ones without them." I told him, "well sir I pray that I never have to use my pistol." Which he responded, "It is better to have it than not have it. Have a good day."

 

[willk]

In Louisiana the legal protocol is to take the weapon from the conceal carry permit holder and return it to the permittee when releasing the permit holder to carry on. This is the procedure by law in our state. Technically he could have done a search of the person for a weapon. Again this option is part of our law. That he returned the firearm loaded is unusual. That he did not do a pat down was likely due to the OP being an Alabama resident and not a Louisiana resident.

Also note that a Louisiana resident who is a conceal carry permit holder is required to show his permit whenever approached by an officer

 

[contender]

To the OP, you have encountered a good officer who showed you he was a mature, common sense type of officer. He was also capable of using good judgement & allowed you your mistake. The full sign of a good LEO. Many more of them than you realize out there.

Now, as to why he wanted to get your firearm.
First, my son is LEO, and here in a little while, I'm having a visitor, a retired federal agent. I associate with a lot of LEO's on a regular basis.
In their job, they interact with the public. They have NO clue as to you, your livelihood, your attitude, your attitude towards LEO's, (good or bad), if you are a criminal or an honest person, etc. In short, you are a stranger. You could be the most honest, law abiding person out there, OR you could be a thug who just shot & killed 7 people, (just like the guy in Missouri the other day,) or just about anybody in between. You could be an average good guy having a really bad day, who could in the heat of the moment, get pizzed at getting pulled over.
You are a stranger who, until he can do a background check on you, must be considered a possible threat.
Remember, he wants to go home to his wife & kids. He also has a job to do.
He has been instructed to be a bit suspicious, and cautious, UNTIL he can verify who you are.
Just like in this case, where the LEO saw the OP was a good person & chose to give him a break.
So, the act of securing a firearm for his protection is a taught safety procedure.

Now, I can appreciate the comments about how it's POSSIBLE the LEO could drop & damage your firearm, or whatever. But, so could your best friend if you handed it to him.

But lastly, to any of you who think it's wrong to have a LEO secure your firearm for his protection to assure his safety, do a few things.
First, look at the news where LEO's are attacked daily by the strangers they pull over. Look at the times a LEO is shot & killed by someone they pulled over for a simple traffic offense. (Here locally, we had a State Highway Patrol officer shot & killed for that very reason just a few years ago. He was sent to the hospital, where just upstairs, his wife was with their pre-mature, gravely ill 4 week old baby was fighting for his life as well. The officer died downstairs while his wife was unaware of it happening. and later, the baby died.)
So, with these kinds of thoughts in your head, I challenge you to become a LEO, and you go out & meet strangers who have broken a law, and you are confronting them. You become the one who has to put yourself in a potentially bad situation every day, and deal with law breakers most of the time.
Just like the OP, who broke the law, (admitted above,) the cops must deal with this all the time.
Yes, it's just a simple traffic offense, and if you are normally a law abiding citizen, you will accept your punishment, and go on. It's those people who are NOT as law abiding, that they worry about dealing with.

And if you are not willing to place yourself in their shoes, then look at it another way.

You are a citizen, legal & armed. Start going into the bad parts of any town. Walk down the streets alone late at night.
Then do not judge the strangers you meet until they prove to you they are just as law abiding. Look at each & every one of them as honest law abiding citizens.
I'll bet you will not or can not do it.

We always talk about how we carry to be prepared for the "bad element" we may encounter. We always pray & hope we never have to use our firearm for self defense, yet, we prepare for self defense. We CHOOSE to not go into dangerous areas. We CHOOSE to be aware of our surroundings. We CHOOSE to be suspicious of some people we meet, (strangers) until we learn something about them.

A LEO does not have the luxury of staying out of potentially dangerous situations. They choose a job that puts them in danger every time they go on duty.
They just use common sense cautions to be careful & be able to do their job. Securing a firearm while they conduct their job is just a safety precaution for them.
I can accept that, as long as the officer is polite & respectful.

And, if the LEO is not polite, respectful, and violates any laws himself, I will be sure to stay calm, and record as much as I can & then seek proper legal action against them.

 

[mjpchief]

Why do some people walk around with a chip on their shoulder all the time. The Officer was polite from the beginning and all through the stop. Could have cost the OP a lot of money but didn't. Could of raised the cost of OP's insurance but didn't. Everything turned out fine. Officer is the kind I would like to have stop me when I slip up while I'm driving. Why does someone always have to get twisted out of shape even when something goes well.

It's no wonder LEOs have to be very careful and never let their guard down when dealing with the public.

 

[Tallbald]

Well said Contender. Miss Penny and I had an accident on I-65 several years ago. Something was in the road and we could do nothing but run over it as we were blocked in between the concrete center barrier and a truck to our right. No obvious damage, but we pulled to the side of the road and called for a KY state trooper. He arrived and truthfully seemed annoyed to be there, asking "why am I here??" There was about $2300 worth of damage (turns out) but the plastic panels of our little Toyota hid it well. Anyway, as most all Southern Gentleman were raised to do, I offered my hand to shake and a verbal introduction. The handshake was promptly refused and he firmly added "we don't shake hands in this job". "You have no idea what we run into..." I honestly was offended. First he seemed annoyed to be there. He even went so far as to advise us NOT to fill out a report on the accident because it "will raise your insurance rates". Penny and I agree that he probably didn't want to do the paperwork. He ordered me to get back in the car on the passenger side. I walk with a cane, have trouble folding up and really didn't want to get back in right then, but I did so ( I realize now I was in a state of shock from the vehicle nearly flipping over at 70 miles an hour in the fast lane of what e locals call"Death Valley"). He filled out the report and sent us on our way ASAP. Oh. He never asked if I had a weapon on me or anything like that, and although I had an SP101 in my pocket, it appeared to be a non-issue).
Reviewing the scenario several times since, I now tend to think the LEO refused my extended hand of our traditional Southern Gentleman greeting because as far as he new, I could be some weirdo planning to pull him forward and knife him, knee him, reach for his weapon or whatever. AND (and this is important here) before leaving, he tried to offer an apology, weak though it was, for not shaking hands. Miss Penny was close to verbally sharing her thoughts about his behavior but in our married couple unspoken language, I'd given her the "please don't say it Honey" look. I-65 is a major drug corridor North-to-South and there are some strange things that have happened through the years along the stretches.
I have now come to the conclusion that 1)the LEO was simply working to help ensure his safe arrival home that evening 2) had his guard very up because there was no obvious damage to a vehicle that had called in a wreck 3) he saw on arrival two people milling about the said vehicle and 4) one of the people (me) was 6 feet 5 inches and almost 300 pounds with a stout-looking cane in his hand while the woman (Miss Penny) was partially concealed by the vehicle. Looking at it from the LEO's viewpoint I understand his cautious clinical demeanor that afternoon.
Don

 

[Wyandot Jim]

Well Here is my story and I'm sticking to it :wink:
Three years ago I was returning from a Cowboy shoot. When I was going thru a small town about 50 miles from the range I failed to see the speed limit sign. Speed went from 65 to 45 and I was doing 60. Well a City Cop pulls me over. I get out of the Jeep and meet him on the shoulder behind the jeep. We go thru all the preliminaries license, insurance and such. After he runs the wants and warrants he wants to know where I had been. I still have my cowboy stuff on. So I tell him been to a CAS club shoot. He wants to know if I have any guns and what kind do I use. I don't have a CCL and non is required in this situation. Anyway I can tell he is interested in what I'm doing. He wants to know if he can look at my guns, 4 pistols a 73 rifle and a SxS . So we spend 10-15 minuets behind the Jeep looking at guns and shooting the bull.
When we are finished he thanks me. Oh by the way no warning or ticket. I then thanked him and told him that at one time I was a reserve Deputy Sherriff and enjoyed showing him my stuff
Only in a small town in Texas.
Act like a jerk and you will be treated like a jerk and you will loose.

 

[DGW1949]

Treat them with respect and courtesy, like you should anyone else and things go smoothly. Come out with an attitude and be disrespectful, they, like anyone else, will return the same. Just common sense.

Well said BlkHawk73......That perty-much covers it.

As for some of you other guys not liking the fact that in most jurisdictions ya might be asked to tempororarily hand over your gun to the police, just remember that it was YOU who accepted your state's "privilage", that privilages allways come with rules and restrictions, and that that particular rule is common to most states.
In other words, it's a myth that "obtaining permission" is the same as "excersizing your Rights", so perhaps ya need to get your mind wrapped around that, accept the situation for what it is, and quit with the complaining because it aint what you wished it was.

DGW

 

[toysoldier]

I have been stopped on two occasions for traveling somewhat in excess of the limit. Each time, I have politely provided my license and CCL. Both times I was asked where my weapon was. I replied politely that I was sitting on it, in my back pocket. No request to see it or turn it over. Both times, I was let off with a warning. No hassle, no lecture.

My niece's husband, a Missouri State Highway Patrolman, told me he relaxes a bit when he sees a CCL, as it's a pretty good sign that the person he's stopped isn't a felon.

 

[wolfsong]

I don't think Mr. Luke has had much experience with law enforcement work. At least not from an officer's position. I could be wrong, however.

 

[one bullet]

I really appreciate everyones level headed response to the negative reply to a very complimentary original post. I just retired Friday from a thirty year law enforcement career. I was one of the guys that secured the weapon until business was concluded. I just wanted to go home safe. I just wanted the motorist or whoever I was dealing with to go home safe. Plain and simple, it's procedure. I always informed the person what I was doing and that I would return the weapon as soon as we were finished. Even a CCW permittee or person legally possessing a firearm offers no assurance you won't be assaulted. I've seen very rational people overreact and end up going to jail over a ticket or something very minor.
I was a polite, courteous, professional police officer throughout my career. I would simply ask the person to hand me the firearm with their thumb and forefinger on the grip of the weapon. Most were in holsters which made it easier. If the person laid the firearm on the dash prior to my approach I would advise the person I was going to pick it up and hold it until we concluded business. Never had a problem with this approach. I returned the firearm to the owner unloaded. Being a gun person I was always careful and respectful of others people's property. Another added benefit of this process was the occasional recovery of a stolen weapon. Even good people end up with stolen firearms on occasion. A polite, respectful, courteous attitude goes a long way. For the officer and the citizen.

 

[sfhogman]

Well said, one bullet.
Congratulations on your retirement. More shooting, more sleeping in!

Jeff

 

[Bob Wright]

It's the rotten apples that affect the entire bushel. Most are good people.

I'll bet that police officer might have thought the same thing!

Bob Wright

 

[mjoinercpd]

I am a current officer of a midsize city (Chattanooga TN) who allow ccw permits. After 13 years, I have never had an issue with a permit holder.

However, the officer who stopped the initial poster had three options.

One, secure the weapon for his safety until he could finish the stop and send you on your way. He did so politely and professionally.

Two, ignore the weapon and hope your good nature (we don't know you) prevented you from shooting him while he performed computer checks and radio traffic which can split his observation of you and get him killed.

Three, call for other officers advising you need backup. They are then keyed up, you are kept standing outside your car for the duration, and every neighbor who drives by asks why you have 3 patrol cars pulling you over and rousting you. You are cold, embarrassed, and angry at us for the hassle.

I know the call I make. I remain curteous and polite and in control. I advise my younger officers the same. We don't make plans for you. We make plans for the worst we may encounter.

I made my wife attend the funeral for a 26 year veteran of my department killed in the line of duty. I will do everything within my legal ability not to make her attend my line of duty death funeral. This is not an easy job. This is a job I chose. She watches me leave home on third shift wearing kevlar and two firearms. She prays I return safely. The odds are I will. However, research the current trends in law enforcement deaths for the last couple years. They are not good.

I spend my time reminding myself and fellow officers (I am a supervisor) that we are public servants. I also remind them to go home after every shift. The average officer (not the bad apples) know that and do a hard job very well.

However, it only takes one &^%$&^%$ wearing a badge to insult you and be disrespectful and the majority assume me I am of the same character. Those _)*(&()* make me look bad every day.

None of us gun owners want to be judged by the dumd*(&^(&*% who shoot themselves in the crotch putting a gun in their pants or shoot themselves in the head while drunk and cleaning an empty firearm. We especially don't want to be judged by the unhinged few who are willing to take an AR15 into an elementary school and kill innocent school children. They are sick. We are not, don't judge us by their actions.

However, people judge me every day for some @#$@#$ who stopped them 10 years ago and was rude.

Is that hypocritical of us?

 

[willk]

In Louisiana it is the law. We have some pretty decent state, parish and local police officers and sheriff's deputies. In my former employment I had frequent contact and often worked directly with them. There were times when they would not let me go into certain neighborhoods without their escort. (even though I did not request it, I certainly never turned it down) I have worked with people who are mentally retarded (nice folks) mentally ill ( could be nice but could be dangerous) and the criminally mentally ill (don't ask cause you don't want to know) I have had to deal with every form of physical violence except being shot at with a firearm (I had a close friend who saved his own life by placing his thumb between the hammer and firing pin of a 1911 as the trigger was being pulled) So, I kind of have a feeling of what's its like to face a public that is not terribly friendly and often terribly agitated. In Louisiana, it is the law to turn over your firearm if requested if you are a CCP holder when approached by an officer of the law. Think about it, it makes sense.

Finally let me soap box about people with mental retardation. With more than 35 years of working with those folks I have learned one very important fact. They are just like you and me, they have the same dreams, same wishes, same desires and same needs. In the end, they just don't add, subtract, multiply or divide as well as you and I. Come to think of it, very few of us can add or subtract as good as Albert Einstein. Does that make us a lessor person than Mr. Einstein? Think about that.

 

[protoolman]

As a retired cop myself, I would only point out he just ran your serial number NCIC and you now in effect have a "registered" gun. I would definitely sell it and buy one off paper if your state allows for these things. I worked in two western states and never held on to a gun because someone had a concealed permit. I dont believe in concealed weapon permit should make you a target for investigating if there is a gun in the car. I always assumed in ND and MT there was a gun in the vehicle anyway. Im amazed the rights you give up in some states these days. Officer safety is very overated when you realize farming is like what, 4 times more dangerous than being a police officer. So is construction work. Why the heck would an officer worry about concealed weapons holders, wouldn't most bad guys skip that permit process?

 

[DA_TriggR4Ruger]

If he was so polite....WHY...did he HAVE to get your firearm?

Were you AFRAID of him because he was cop with a LOADED firearm on HIS SIDE?

Why should he have been afraid of you, with a loaded gun closed up inside a vehicle that you were standing outside of?

I DO NOT see this the say way that you do...this is harassment, to me. He had NO reason to retrieve your firearm other than the fact that you were honest with him and he could.

This kind of treatment of law abiding, licensed citizens is the very reason that have little esteem for law enforcement.

This! +1

Lucky you weren't shot to death.

 

[mjpchief]

It is up to the farmer to make his work place safe for him to work in. It would be the same for the LEO.

Funny how it's always the same two or three who want to turn any topic into an argument.

 

[protoolman]

I would think a reasoned argument or healthy debate is a good thing. I do think in some states you have far more rights than others these days. I know a couple states nearby have no permit for concealed carry laws up this legislative session. This would solve this problem by getting rid of the concealed database so honest citizens would not be targeted.