Two questions for local LEOs

[Eggysrun]

As a LEO, I have an interest in knowing if there are firearms or any other weapons readily accessible by anyone I contact. The fact you had your concealed carry card out would indicate to me, you probably had a firearm with you. You need to remember, that LEO does not know you, does not know if you are a decent person, or just killed your wife and are leaving the area. When the records check comes back as you not having any warrants and a valid drivers license, there is no need to continue the contact. However, if you had a warrant, that information would be valuable.

He may have had a legitimate curiosity as to your desire to carry concealed and giving him a smart assed answer is juvenile. You gave him an honest answer and satisfied his curiosity and maybe enlightened him in a positive way.

In Colorado, if a person is stopped on a traffic violation and not issued a summons, a business card is required to be given. It was enacted several years ago when a legislator had a hard on for Denver PD. They are required to obtain all sorts of information in their stops for statistical analysis and the rest of us have to give out a business card.

Another thing about the business card is if you've had a good experience with a LEO, it's always a good thing to call whatever department they're in and just leave some positive feedback for that LEO to their superviser. One thing I've learnt is that a LEO's performance is based on their arrests and commendations from the public. I personally think it's important for the good LEO's out there because those commendations from the public stay on their record, and definately keeps them motivated to keep up the good work.

[lead_magnet]

Another thing about the business card is if you've had a good experience with a LEO, it's always a good thing to call whatever department they're in and just leave some positive feedback for that LEO to their superviser. One thing I've learnt is that a LEO's performance is based on their arrests and commendations from the public. I personally think it's important for the good LEO's out there because those commendations from the public stay on their record, and definately keeps them motivated to keep up the good work.

^this

1: If he didn't take your license back to his car with him when he took your CCP, he used it to check you for wants/warrants and to check the status of your driver's license. Having a license on you that looks valid doesn't mean it is. If he did take your license and your CCP, he probably used that time to inspect your CCP or used it to familiarize himself with one from whatever county issued yours. Anytime you get pulled over, ticket or not, you will be checked via NCIC/CCIC. It is standard practice, we even run little old ladies.

2: No that is not a normal line of questioning. Would I be worried? No. I chit-chat with people from time to time and have probably asked some questions and said things that left people guessing. It beats having the "just the facts ma'am" attitude.

[SA Friday]

the "just the facts ma'am" attitude.

Questions that illicit a response more than yes or no ARE the facts. Everyone overlooked the "why are you driving down this road" question. The response to this one said it all. It said, "no problems here, not a reason to dig further."

Good training and experience. I suspect, although not mentioned, this cop was older and wiser.

[lead_magnet]

Usually when people refer to cops having the "just the facts ma'am" attitude, mean that they dont' want to hear any information, no bs, no chit chat, "39 in a 30 MPH zone, here is your ticket, press hard there's five copies" IMHO not good police work.

You are correct about the justification for the location of the stop. Usually a "where are you headed?" "where are you coming from?" set of questions can be expected with most stops.

[sneakerd]

On the totally opposite tact, I got out of a ticket last week BECAUSE I have a CCW. Got pulled over s/b on Sheridan at 46th at approx 8:45pm on my way home from work. I made a right turn on the red light from 48th to go s/b on Sheridan. I had missed the Sheridan exit from I-70 w/b, had to get off at Harlan. Pulled over by a Wheat Ridge copper. My pistol is kept in a Maxpedition bag, which was on the pass. seat. On approach, my 4Runner was off, inside light turned on, hands on the wheel with my DL. The first thing I told the p.o. was that I was a CCW holder, and there was a pistol in the bag to my right. I still had to get my ins. card from the armrest, he closely watched me do that. Checked it all out and handed my DL and ins. back to me with a smile. He said- "I thought I had an easy ticket back there- then you tell me you're CCW- I like CCW holders!". We shot the breeze for a few and went our seperate ways. I get pulled over fairly regularly because of the way I drive. I almost never get a ticket.



I love cops. All of them.

[Aloha_Shooter]

Don't get me wrong. This guy was totally professional and I quite understand his desire to know the whereabouts of any weapons. He wants to see his family again as much as any of us do. That's why I had the wallet out and both hands visible on the wheel before he came up. I would have figured he'd get any warrant status from the DL so was surprised that he took the CCP with him as well; I wasn't thinking about needing to check that validity as well.

I also wasn't thinking about public contact reflecting in their acvancement; will drop a line of kudos to his unit.

[KevDen2005]

Usually when people refer to cops having the "just the facts ma'am" attitude, mean that they dont' want to hear any information, no bs, no chit chat, "39 in a 30 MPH zone, here is your ticket, press hard there's five copies" IMHO not good police work.

You are correct about the justification for the location of the stop. Usually a "where are you headed?" "where are you coming from?" set of questions can be expected with most stops.

I get accused this sometimes and was told just yesterday that I have no sense of humor. Obviously they don't know me and I have an awesome sense of humor. But the reason why I am straight forward on a few issues and kind of hard nosed about being too friendly is because of situations like I was in. I was accused and complained on a few years ago because I was trying to be friendly and just making basic chit chat while I did my job. The accusation was that I was picking that person's side because I laughed at their joke or whatever.

[KevDen2005]

Another thing about the business card is if you've had a good experience with a LEO, it's always a good thing to call whatever department they're in and just leave some positive feedback for that LEO to their superviser. One thing I've learnt is that a LEO's performance is based on their arrests and commendations from the public. I personally think it's important for the good LEO's out there because those commendations from the public stay on their record, and definately keeps them motivated to keep up the good work.

This is always a plus. Just like most jobs I think no one ever calls in to say that guy did a good job or was really professional. When the public calls in to say so it is really good for the officer and the PD. Where I work a complaint is always dealt with the harshest way possible, even if they person just thinks you were rude and it wasn't the case at all. Luckily one of the sergeants where I work does what a sergeant is supposed to do. I got a complaint one time about being rude and mean to this person's son, who ran a stop sign and was speeding. I gave him a warning and a business card, mainly because I was cold and being rained on. But the Sergeant actually told the mother, "I don't know if you are getting the whole truth from your son, that officer is probably the nicest officer in this department."

[KevDen2005]

As a LEO, I have an interest in knowing if there are firearms or any other weapons readily accessible by anyone I contact. The fact you had your concealed carry card out would indicate to me, you probably had a firearm with you. You need to remember, that LEO does not know you, does not know if you are a decent person, or just killed your wife and are leaving the area. When the records check comes back as you not having any warrants and a valid drivers license, there is no need to continue the contact. However, if you had a warrant, that information would be valuable.

He may have had a legitimate curiosity as to your desire to carry concealed and giving him a smart assed answer is juvenile. You gave him an honest answer and satisfied his curiosity and maybe enlightened him in a positive way.

In Colorado, if a person is stopped on a traffic violation and not issued a summons, a business card is required to be given. It was enacted several years ago when a legislator had a hard on for Denver PD. They are required to obtain all sorts of information in their stops for statistical analysis and the rest of us have to give out a business card.

As always, way ahead of me OneGuy! But I wanted to add, I will often ask questions that you thought weren't necessary so I can make conversation with you. That is so I can find out why you may be in an area that is being reported of having high crime during certain hours, or lots of suspicious activity being reported (lets just say after a very serious and horrible crime in the metro area). The citizens that report these things may have legitimate concerns and I can't brush them off just because I think they may be overreacting. Also I am trying to make conversation with you to see if I get any odor of alcohol or other information about possible crime, no matter how dumb a person thinks it is. It could be very legitimate.

The guy may be curious about conceal carrying or shooting because he is excited to meet a like minded thinker. I couldn't possibly imagine what my pd would say when if I told people, "Get a gun" when they ask "What do you think I should do?" But it's always nice for me to meet like minded people and chat them up a little about their guns if I get the impression they would BS for a minute. And yes, CSP, you're lucky, I believe they have no sense of humor.

If a person has a gun in the car it's nice to know. Most often I won't remove it. There have been a few times that I have, mainly when contacting a person involved in crime other than traffic violations. I generally just secure it during my contact, but again that's fairly rare as in most traffic stops for me aren't for that purpose.

[OneGuy67]

Kevin, you said it very well! I was typing on a tablet and it isn't easy to be overly articulate with two fingers.