Andrew S said:
I value your input as a LEO then. A civilian telling me not to comply with directions of a LEO would have just been just silly to me.
No partner. Direct conversation with the single officer. I followed his instructions with caution.
Forgive my ignorance but what does FTO stand for? How would he retrieve it without reaching into the car then? The way I see it there are two ways for him to acquire the weapon. One being me handing it to him and two being him reaching in and getting it. If you have another way it might illustrate your point better.
I have thought about it and he has full vision of the vehicle and the benefit of mobility outside of the vehicle. I am sure that nine hundredths of a second wasnt with a firearm that was holstered in a persons lap with his hands at his side and the officer telling him how to grab the gun. He had full control of the situation and could have pulled on me and/or moved to safety well before i even touched the gun if I did something wrong.
FTO stands for Field Training Officer. This is the cop that you see right after you graduate from the academy, who instructs you on department policy, and makes sure that you are able to do the job before you're out on your own.
Now, as to how I have done it, I have a simple rule of thumb:
The folks with CCW are more than likely the good guys. I take that stance because a valid CCW tells me that you have already gone through a background check, and that you are law abiding. That is the main reason that if and when you are stopped by a LEO, you should inform them that you have a CPL/CCW/permit to carry.
Usually, what I hear is this:
"OK, officer, but before I reach for my license, you should know that I have a valid CCW, I am armed (quick location description follows), and I have to reach past it to get my information. What do you want me to do?"
A giveaway that the vehicle I am approaching might be a good guy is that the hands are in plain sight--ALWAYS.
If the firearm is holstered, I tell them to go ahead and give me the license/registration.
If the firearm is in the glove compartment, and they tell me the registration is in there, I say, "OK. Let's just leave it there, then, and let me see your license, please." From that point, I am watching that glove compartment like a hawk. The license check sounds like this:
"N104, with a name."
(Dispatch) "Go ahead"
"Last of xxxx, first of xxxx, middle initial xx, for xxx, date of birth xx-xx-of-xxxx; check CPL, please."
About 10 seconds later:
"N104"
"Go ahead"
""Subject is clear, all ways, CPL valid until xxxx"
My usual traffic in this case is:
"Thank you. I'll be cleared with advisory/warning."
I return the license, tell them to slow down, and be careful.
(Translation: Unless you are REALLY boning up, I usually issue warnings anyway.)