Would you work as a LEO if you could not carry off duty?

**Sapper_132** · 06-24-07, 01:31 AM

I know that these agencys exist cause I worked for one once.

Would you work as a LEO for an agency if they did not allow you to carry off duty?

**Bosco3379** · 06-24-07, 01:37 AM

Well, the agency I want to work for and all the other ones I would work for do not allow you to carry off duty, so I guess I would.

**Sapper_132** · 06-24-07, 01:39 AM

I say yes, cause I could still carry on my ccw.

**TXCharlie** · 06-24-07, 01:42 AM

I voted no - I wouldn't work for an agency like that, because there would probably be very annoying policies attached to almost everything.

I bet those types of agencies would have a big problem with their officers carrying off-duty under CCW too.

**Sapper_132** · 06-24-07, 01:46 AM

Originally Posted by TXCharlie

I bet those types of agencies would have a big problem carrying under CCW too.

They might but since they can't regulate it, as carrying under a ccw is given to me as a citizen what could they do? Not a thing and if they did. Off to court we go!

**TXCharlie** · 06-24-07, 01:48 AM

Come to think of it... I might make an exception with Dallas Reserves, because I think they allow CHL carry off-duty...

Seems like I heard from a classmate that Dallas PD doesn't allow their Reservists to carry off-duty under color of the department, but I think they state that it's ok with them to carry under CHL. But I have no idea if any of that's true or not.

**Jenna** · 06-24-07, 01:49 AM

Isn't there a federal law (HB 218) that allows all LEOs to carry guns off-duty anywhere and anytime?

**Sapper_132** · 06-24-07, 01:50 AM

Whats HB?

**TXCharlie** · 06-24-07, 01:50 AM

House Bill 218 - But I think that only applies to full-time paid LEO's, not Reservists, and only if the department allows it

**Sapper_132** · 06-24-07, 01:53 AM

Ah, No.

This law applies to persons who meet the definition listed below of a "Qualified Law Enforcement Officer."

qualified law enforcement officer means an employee of a governmental agency who--

`(1) is authorized by law to engage in or supervise the prevention, detection, investigation, or prosecution of, or the incarceration of any person for, any violation of law, and has statutory powers of arrest;

`(2) is authorized by the agency to carry a firearm;

`(3) is not the subject of any disciplinary action by the agency;

`(4) meets standards, if any, established by the agency which require the employee to regularly qualify in the use of a firearm;

`(5) is not under the influence of alcohol or another intoxicating or hallucinatory drug or substance; and

`(6) is not prohibited by Federal law from receiving a firearm.

Some Federal Agencys only have detention authority and their arrest powers come from their commander. But they themselfs the officer don't have statutory arrest powers.

**TXCharlie** · 06-24-07, 02:03 AM

Good deal

**Coloradocop** · 06-24-07, 03:03 AM

Originally Posted by Jenna

Isn't there a federal law (HB 218) that allows all LEOs to carry guns off-duty anywhere and anytime?

Jenna, it has been a long week, so I'm too tired to look up the statute right now... However, as I recall, one of the provisions of this new federal law required that the officer who was carrying off-duty be authorized to do so by their department (In other words, if policy at the department level dictated not carrying off duty, then this law wouldn't authorize you to do so in contridiction to such a policy).

Having said that, my department's policy is actually written so that it says we are actually required to carry our weapon off-duty at all times (an opposite extreme I suppose).

**mfranklin01** · 06-24-07, 03:12 AM

I voted no because if I'm going to be our arresting people I don't want them to see me in wal-mart and want to come "thank" me for arresting them.

**Tony** · 06-24-07, 04:50 AM

Originally Posted by Sapper_132

I know that these agencys exist cause I worked for one once.

Would you work as a LEO for an agency if they did not allow you to carry off duty?

I do.

**Trojan 42** · 06-24-07, 05:16 AM

I did

**Standard Dave** · 06-24-07, 06:46 AM

I don't carry on duty so it would be a bit strange to just carry off duty

**Kpdpipes** · 06-24-07, 07:21 AM

Originally Posted by mfranklin01

I voted no because if I'm going to be our arresting people I don't want them to see me in wal-mart and want to come "thank" me for arresting them.

+1

**TXCOP** · 06-24-07, 07:58 AM

I was formerly a detention officer and had several former "customers" thank me for the job I did. Granted I wasn't a dick(you know that Golden Rule really works when you're locked up with 72 of the dirt bags) but it still makes my butt pucker when I think about it. If I had been an asshole to them(we had guys who got off on the power trip and a few got street justice for it) it would have been bad.

Now I carry everywhere.

**Rhino** · 06-24-07, 08:16 AM

That's the most ridiculous thing I ever heard. Just because we aren't on duty doesn't mean we can't run into some of our adoring fans. Agencies like that are begging for a lawsuit.

**phantasm** · 06-24-07, 08:29 AM

I take public transportation to/from work more than 1/2 the time, plus I go to court out of uniform in plain clothes whenver I do go to court. I've had people I've encountered recognize me off duty. Granted in these cases it wasn't a negative encounter, but it could have been.