Posted on 07/28/2011 5:54:16 AM PDT by brent13a
In California, where I live and work, there has been an increasing movement among a segment of legally-armed citizens to carry unloaded sidearms in plain view. This trend is happening elsewhere, but there seems to just be more activity around the movement here in the Golden State perhaps because it seems so much more difficult to get a CCW here than in most other states.
In my humble estimation, the video of Officer Matthew Lyons of the Oceanside (Calif.) PD could be a training video for any agency that has to deal with open carry citizens. In fact, the video of video below in which Officer Lyons encounters one of those individuals stands in stark contrast to another we posted to PoliceOne last week.
There has been quite a lot of traffic to the video of Canton (Ohio) Patrolman Harless not just here on PoliceOne, but all over the Internet and his less-than-stellar response to a legally-armed citizen in his sector. Im told that Harless has been or soon will be relieved of his badge. Well, regardless of the outcome of that particular case, there are myriad examples out there of officers encountering an open-carry citizen, and I point to this one with Officer Lyons as a compelling example of doing it the right way.
Officer Lyons has been hailed by a handful of bloggers, including one for CBS News which bears repeating here:
Officer Matt Lyons with the Oceanside Police Department definitely deserves a shout out for this almost 3-minute encounter. Officer Lyons, we salute you, not only for your incredible professionalism, sense of humor, and great on camera demeanor, but also your dedicated 22 years of service in the United States Marine Corps.
(Excerpt) Read more at policeone.com ...
A$$hole cop is charming and smooth, but still seeks to deny civil rights under color of law.
His job is to keep the peace, and not to question people who possess legal objects.
Part of the “standing army” our Founders feared.
Yup. Jeremy should have been as friendly as the cop. I also noticed that the first cop waved off the second cop by stating “code 4”, but the second cop just had to come over anyway. Probably made “Jeremy” a little more nervous. Nervousness is why “Jeremy” came off like a putz.
Typical.
Ignore the content of my posts, impute to me tired stereotypes whose only raison d’etre is giving you a plausible reason avoid discussion, then chalk it up to MY attitude problem.
You remind me of nothing so much as women who want to criticize men, but get on their high horse when criticized BY men.
Are you seriously asserting that removing badge and inviting a prisoner to "bring it on" is professional conduct? Or are you admitting that it is unprofessional? Taking off the badge while on duty, while in the jail or police station, while you have a uniformed assistant standing "right there," is not a professional or even mature response to a taunting asshole. Do you say otherwise?
Condescension does not benefit your ultimate cause. My point wasn't and isn't to make you an automaton. You should have noticed a previous remark of mine, to you, that suggests treating some contacts different from others, as a means of building (civilian) community support behind your actions.
Not that it matters, but I have had and do have a substantial number of friends in law enforcement. I am a civilian. Given the attitude you present on this thread, I would not adopt you as a friend.
IMHO the gun holder should have been cordial enough to offer his name. I thought it was the law to at least verbally give your name when asked by an officer. This guy was offered much more respect than he was go ing the officer.
The cop didn’t “confiscate” the pistol. He checked it to see if was loaded then handed it back. Current Calif law states that you can only open carry with an empty pistol. I know. Stupid law, but it’s the law enacted by a duly elected legislature. “Jeremy” asked the cop to return the pistol to his holster as he didn’t want to touch the weapon. The cop did so.
No. Like a cop who pounds his chest over giving the "bad guy" a chance, when the only reason he gave that chance was because he knew it really wasn't.
Quit being rude. brent13a has explained things in a clear fashion so you can get a different perspective. You are only harming your position with your ill advised comments.
How do you think the officer would feel it ht ecitizen said let me check you weapon for my safety.
thanks for this
I don't think it is. Too close to "papers please." But, never give a false answer, and if the officer has an articulable suspicion, he/she has the legal power to detain you.
If you are engaging in privilege, such as driving, then you are obliged to prove the state has granted you the privilege, and this inevitably involves divulging your identity.
If you've done nothing to arouse suspicion, and the officer cannot articulate what he/she suspects you of, then you have no obligation to give any information, and the officer has no legal power to obtain it.
I think both parties in the transaction noted in the OP did okay. Funny (not "haha" funny) that the officer did not know how to open a S&W semiauto sidearm. But Jeremy's refusal to give more than first name was not used as an excuse to escalate the terms of contact.
Dude, how long is it going to take you and your buddy to notice I’m not fitting into your narrative?
And who do you think you’re kidding when you connect “openly run their mouth” with “threaten a police officer?” Saying things you don’t like is NOT a threat, but it sure seems you’d like to treat it that way.
The cops need more than curiosity to get your name and dob. Once the weapon was checked and found to be empty, the cop had no legal authority to demand a name, etc. There is nothing that prevents the cops from asking, but like this officer did, if you get a negative response you just call it good and walk away.
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