A pleasant run-in with my local police

[Kentucky_Rifleman]

I just wanted to share my overwhelmingly positive CCW experience.

After dropping off a friend Wednesday night, I was pulled over by a local Lexington police officer. I was driving my wife's car, and a headlight had burned out. He pulled me over and asked for my license and insurance, which I politely provided.

He returned after five or six minutes of checking me/the car on the patrol car's computer, and explained why he had stopped me. He returned my license and insurance card, and told me that my CCW had come up when he ran my license (Kentuckians are not required to notify police unless asked). He asked if I was armed. I responded that I was. He asked where the gun was, and I responded that it was in a pancake holster on my right hip.

For the entirety of this part of our conversation I kept my hands on the steering wheel.

He asked me to produce the pistol, butt first. I complied. He removed the magazine and cleared the chamber, then examined the gun. (I carry an older Belgian Browning Hi-Power). He asked how I liked the pistol, how accurate was it, how reliable, and so on. We talked handguns for five or six minutes. At the end of our conversation he handed me the pistol - butt first, the loose round, and the magazine and told me to have a good evening.

He was incredibly pleasant and polite.

I've read several threads here about other LEOs being short with carriers, and I've often wondered how the police would handle me when I eventually got stopped while carrying, but this officer was the opposite of what I've often read about.

KR

 

[Jefferson Herb]

Leo

Nice to hear a good report,I hope it helps me keep it in perspective.

 

[rideandcarry]

My problem with that experience is that he shouldn't have asked you to hand him your gun. The gun was a non-issue and only became an issue when he asked to see it. He could have just said that the CCW came up, asked if you were carrying, then sent you on your way.

 

[sterling180]

Now thats what I call 'pleasant policing'.But in putting things into perspectiveolice officers are just humans at the end of the day&some will definately have varying attitudes towards firearms&towards people carrying them.At the end of the day,if they treat people with respect,but remain firm&cautious in their approach,there shouldn't be any problems.Also power goes to these persons heads sometimes,when wearing a uniform&so thats why some cops,mistreat people,as they think that they 'have the ultimate- right,to do so'.
The best report of an American police officer,that I've read thus far.I hope to read about some more.I wouldn't mind living over there...lol.

 

[Big Boy]

I agree, no need for him to take or examine the gun.

But, still better than a lot of LEO encounters I've heard of.

 

[Kentucky_Rifleman]

My problem with that experience is that he shouldn't have asked you to hand him your gun. The gun was a non-issue and only became an issue when he asked to see it. He could have just said that the CCW came up, asked if you were carrying, then sent you on your way.

I hadn't thought about that. I remember when I did my training several years ago, that we were not required to notify LEOs unless asked, and that we were required to surrender the weapon for inspection if asked. The last part may have changed since I got my CCW. I'll have to look into that. I didn't personally mind him looking over my BHP, and he didn't write down or computer check the serial number, in fact, I'm not sure he even looked at it. He seemed more curious about the pistol than my carrying it.

KR

 

[ms6852]

I got stopped for speeding and informed the LEO that I was licensed to carry and had one on me. He asked where I had it which I replied. He just told me to keep my hands awat from that general area. Thats all that happened in that matter...still got my ticket.

 

[Kentucky_Rifleman]

Police officers are just humans at the end of the day&some will definately have varying attitudes towards firearms&towards people carrying them.

Part of his attitude towards me was probably based on the fact that I haven't had so much as a speeding ticket in the last 20 years, and I'm very clean-cut looking. I teach high school and look the part. I was wearing Khakis and a button-down plaid shirt, and I'm clean shaven with a neat haircut and no tattoos.

I don't intend to imply that the police should treat people with more "alternative" appearances rudely, just that I do believe personal appearance plays a role in how others react to us. Anyone who doubts this should consider how my wife has "talked her way out of" speeding tickets and equipment violation stops.

KR

 

[Oro]

That sounds akin to my normal (albeit very infrequent!) experiences with law enforcement. They are human, sensible, sane, usually "gun guys." They are our friends and neighbors. I don't see a tension between the gun community and law enforcement in most places (DC, Boston, NYC, and Seattle, all places I have lived, are anomalous exceptions - other big cities may be, too).

I don't like anti-cop posts and am glad you pointed out the simple reality of what is 99% of what they do and who they are.

As an aside, though I grew up around Louisville KY it was when I was younger so I had little interaction with the LE community. But the one time I was an adult and pulled over by the KSP it was one of the most professional and polite LE experiences I ever had. I was in a rental car driving too fast east of Lexington on the interstate heading home to a funeral. A very severe and fatal ice storm in the WV panhandle the day before had slowed me down and made me really late. The KSP trooper took everything into consideration and sent me on my way with a warning, and if I recall correctly even told me how much over the limit I could do in order to avoid another speed trap. Now that's service to the public. I don't know what agency pulled you over, but the KSP has major respect in my book.

 

[Nutgun]

The first thing you should do is inform the officer you have a loaded gun in the vehicle. And take directions from there while keeping your hands on the steering wheel. They could get real testy not knowing you have a loaded gun while they go back to run your license.

I've been stopped where 2 cops got out and one was on the passenger side aiming his gun toward the car.

Better to let them know first and not do any suspicious moves.

 

[coloradokevin]

Glad you had a positive experience!

In Colorado our vehicle computers show us information on CCW permits for most counties, though people are not required to inform us of their weapons. Personally, if I can confess this fact, I like to ask the gun question when I see a CCW hit, if only because I can break up the monotony of the evening by BSing about guns with someone for a few minutes (I've never run across a legal CCW holder who was trouble to deal with on a stop... some of them aren't the best drivers --hence the traffic stop-- but they've all been decent citizens). I've also never been in a position where I've felt the need to disarm a legal CCW'er, even though we are permitted to by statute. I've disarmed plenty of gang members, but I don't think that any of the regular posters on THR would fall into that category!

While opinions vary on this subject, I always encourage people to inform the officer that they are carrying a weapon (on the rare occasions when I've been stopped off duty, I always do). Some folks feel that this will open you up to problems with the police, but I feel that it puts things a bit more "at-ease" during the stop. Simply stated, if someone is already telling me that they have a loaded gun, I won't be unpleasantly surprised if I see it! I guess the rationality of informing a LEO about a gun probably varies some depending on where you are in the country. I don't think it would be out of line to say that cops in Colorado are more accustomed to privately guns than cops in, say, Chicago. Many of my coworkers hunt, or otherwise participate in recreational or competitive shooting events; many of us like to talk guns!

 

[sterling180]

Part of his attitude towards me was probably based on the fact that I haven't had so much as a speeding ticket in the last 20 years, and I'm very clean-cut looking. I teach high school and look the part. I was wearing Khakis and a button-down plaid shirt, and I'm clean shaven with a neat haircut and no tattoos.

Yes,I have to agree on this,but its so sad that some officers do discriminate against people,who've had minor form,past biker/street gang involvement,etc.Someone like Dog the Bounty Hunterperhaps.Ive read cases,where non-white legal-carrying citizens have also been harrassed by the cops,etc.Very true,I believe,but some stuff is found out to be false.Now this is something good to hear:a pro-gun teacher.There aren't as many pro-gun teachers left,in these modern-times,in the UK.I think we need to reverse the national curriculum a bit..lol.

 

[Lincoln7]

My problem with that experience is that he shouldn't have asked you to hand him your gun. The gun was a non-issue and only became an issue when he asked to see it. He could have just said that the CCW came up, asked if you were carrying, then sent you on your way.

Another person here agreeing with this. It was obvious that he didn't think you were a threat and should have treated it as such. Not a bad experience but some of it was unnecessary, IMO.

 

[BridgeTooFar]

FWIW, the only time I've ever been stopped since I got my CWP, my experience went almost exactly like the OP's did, with a few exceptions.

We (in SC) are required to show the CWP along with the license when asked for it (or at least the person teaching my class told us to). Cop asked if there was a gun in the vehicle when I showed him my CWP. I told him there was one in the center console. He asked if I needed to get into that compartment to get my registration or anything, and I told him I did not. He asked that I not open that compartment or reach for it at any time in that case. I agreed. He asked what kind of gun I had in there. I told him it was a Ruger SP101, and we talked about the relative benefits of a revolver over an auto-loader as a backup/off duty gun (I'm not a cop or anything like that, but I think that was why he was asking - he was new and was looking for an off duty gun for himself). I kept my hands on the wheel when not handing him the license, CWP, registration, or insurance info.

He told me I was going 8 mph over the speed limit, and that he was going to just give me a warning for that and to not do it again. He handed me back my license, etc., and I was on my way.

What impressed me about this guy was more that he was new, and I thought he handled the situation very professionally (maybe they're taught this in our locality, but I doubt it as I've seen 3 patrol cars show up for a standard speeding stop before when I was riding with a friend who was doing nothing out or the ordinary to make that necessary). It was almost as if he felt safer around me than he would with non-CWP carrier as he knew I'd had at least some training, etc., and had been through a state law enforcement division check fairly recently. Also, the time of day may have mattered; it was at 8am on a weekday on my way to work.

I just think it depends on the personality of the cop. They can be dicks if they want to, or they can be reasonable. There's a lot of leeway, and I think that (just like in any profession) you will have good eggs and bad apples.

 

[whalerman]

I've heard stories of everything. I know there are arrogant cops out there. But in my 56 years I haven't met even one. I went through the long hair stage, hitch hiked across the country more than once, went to places I shouldn't have been, spent nights in places I shouldn't have been, and was probably around more problem people than I ever realized. For the most part, I wasn't such a bad guy. But I experienced a lot, and had more than one occasion to meet police officers from all over the country. Deep south, Texas, the North East, West, you name it. I never, ever was treated unfairly or unprofessionally by a law enforcement officer. I don't feel the need to fawn all over them and put "I love cops" stickers in my truck window, but I have a firm, basic respect for them. It is all based on experience.

 

[7.62 Nato]

Glad to here this went well. Without turning this into a rant, I get very tired of the us versus them mentallity from both sides that seems so prevailant nowadays.

 

[BridgeTooFar]

Glad to here this went well. Without turning this into a rant, I get very tired of the us versus them mentallity from both sides that seems so prevailant nowadays.

+1 on that. Like I said above, you can have a**holes on both "sides" (don't really like saying "sides" either, but there's really no other way to say it).

 

[General Geoff]

I'll never understand why people think a police officer demanding that you surrender your weapon to them, is a "pleasant encounter." Tell me, when's the last time you asked a police officer to surrender their sidearm to you?

 

[cassandrasdaddy]

I've heard stories of everything. I know there are arrogant cops out there. But in my 56 years I haven't met even one. I went through the long hair stage, hitch hiked across the country more than once, went to places I shouldn't have been, spent nights in places I shouldn't have been, and was probably around more problem people than I ever realized. For the most part, I wasn't such a bad guy. But I experienced a lot, and had more than one occasion to meet police officers from all over the country. Deep south, Texas, the North East, West, you name it. I never, ever was treated unfairly or unprofessionally by a law enforcement officer. I don't feel the need to fawn all over them and put "I love cops" stickers in my truck window, but I have a firm, basic respect for them. It is all based on experience.

you too?

 

[preachnhunt]

I got stopped near Winchester and gave the officer my permit along with my license. He returned both without comment and told me to slow down. My wife actually got a ticket near Danville and while that officer did ask where her gun was he was very respectful. Both instances were with Ky. State police. I have never had a bad experience with any of them. They seem like good people to me.

 

[Dave P]

"he shouldn't have asked you to hand him your gun. "


Agreed. Besides knowing you are a GOOD GUY because you have a permit, any weapon handling increases the odds of an accidental discharge tremendously.

He should have not asked for it - totally uncalled for. Complain to his shift supervisor.

 

[HunterBear71]

Why in the world did the officer feel the need to fondle your weapon?

 

[bearcreek]

General Geof, according the the op's post the officer did not "demand" he hand over his weapon, he politely requested and according to his later post the officer would have been within his legal rights if he had done so. I'm not an advocate of regulations requiring citizens to declare they are carrying but I think that a little common sense politeness and courtesy on the part of both citizens and police will help to quell the perceived need for such regulations.

 

[THE DARK KNIGHT]

What was the point of him taking the gun from you? Just to hand it right back a few mins later and say cya later....Well at least he was nice guy and didn't give you any problems.

 

[shootistpd27]

How about this, if you dont want your weapon fondled, dont break the law in order to get stopped by a cop. Let me ask you this question. If you are at work and 95% of the people you deal with hate your guts, wouldnt you be interested in who has a gun or not? You go send a law abiding, ccw permit holders wife to the penitentiary for a few years when she was convicted of a crime, and tell me that his ccw permit makes you impervious to his bullets. Is every person who is ccw going to kill you? Heck no! But you will be danged if your not gonna be on your p's and q's to make sure that they arent.