How would any of you of handled this?

[KevDen2005]

And I can't believe I finally caved in and let you guys drag me into this conversation.

[spyder]

Ok, well, there we have it. Thanks Kev.

I guess one last question, if someone calls in a guy with a gun, are you (the PD in general) required to check it out? Lets say a lib says that there is a suspicious guy walking down the street with a gun on his hip.

[KevDen2005]

Ok, well, there we have it. Thanks Kev.

I guess one last question, if someone calls in a guy with a gun, are you (the PD in general) required to check it out? Lets say a lib says that there is a suspicious guy walking down the street with a gun on his hip.

Generally yes. It may depend on your jurisdiction, however we respond to every single call for service no matter how selective we would want to be. This goes back to the neutrality and the government service. We can't pick and choose. A citizen called in a suspicious person we will have to respond.

Imagine if it sounded like nothing and we didn't go and this guy shoots up a building full of people...we would be held accountable that we didn't respond and investigate

[10mm-man]

Generally yes. It may depend on your jurisdiction, however we respond to every single call for service no matter how selective we would want to be. This goes back to the neutrality and the government service. We can't pick and choose. A citizen called in a suspicious person we will have to respond.

Imagine if it sounded like nothing and we didn't go and this guy shoots up a building full of people...we would be held accountable that we didn't respond and investigate

Thanks for getting dragged into the conversation! So you have to respond, how about initiate contact? The guy in this video quoted a couple case laws alluding to Police not able to stop someone for open carry, based on just OC. I think Spyder meant to ask "Initiate Contact" if a call came in about a suspicious person OC, but I could be wrong.

Thanks again!

[KevDen2005]

Thanks for getting dragged into the conversation! So you have to respond, how about initiate contact? The guy in this video quoted a couple case laws alluding to Police not able to stop someone for open carry, based on just OC. I think Spyder meant to ask "Initiate Contact" if a call came in about a suspicious person OC, but I could be wrong.

Thanks again!

Just because someone doesn't make a phone call doesn't mean police contact results in only a consensual contact. If police can articulate a reasonable suspicion ton contact a person they don't need consent. Often times I will also ask for consent so I can articulate in my report later that there were circumstances that allowed me to contact this person AND I got consent.

[10mm-man]

Just because someone doesn't make a phone call doesn't mean police contact results in only a consensual contact. If police can articulate a reasonable suspicion ton contact a person they don't need consent. Often times I will also ask for consent so I can articulate in my report later that there were circumstances that allowed me to contact this person AND I got consent.

That's kinda what I was thinking; even if the law says that LEO can't stop someone solely for OC, if the LEO really wants to stop you, they could wait until they could justify "reasonable suspicion" or until maybe you "jaywalked".

So maybe I am missing something and sorry if it's spelled out "between the lines", but if a call came in and you had to respond (to the OC guy) would you have to initiate contact by law? Or is it up to you at that point?

Thanks!

[KevDen2005]

That's kinda what I was thinking; even if the law says that LEO can't stop someone solely for OC, if the LEO really wants to stop you, they could wait until they could justify "reasonable suspicion" or until maybe you "jaywalked".

So maybe I am missing something and sorry if it's spelled out "between the lines", but if a call came in and you had to respond (to the OC guy) would you have to initiate contact by law? Or is it up to you at that point?

Thanks!

Generally yes I would need to contact him, but this goes back to what I was saying about information provided. What did the caller say? What did dispatch tell you?

[jackthewall81]

And I can't believe I finally caved in and let you guys drag me into this conversation.

Thanks for your insight. It is good to hear it from someone in the know.

[palepainter]

And I can't believe I finally caved in and let you guys drag me into this conversation.

Always great to hear the opinions and thoughts of the guys who have to deal with this stuff daily. Thanks!!