... spent 5 hours on a ride-along today.....

[Jay]

I've had one or two less-than-stellar interactions with a police officer, but that was many years ago.

I just spent 5 hours with an officer, and learned a lot. It was a very positive outing. He picked me up at my home, and I enjoyed the morning a great deal. We made arrangements for some range time, and he never mentioned the fact that I was openly carrying. I ride in the afternoon/evening tomorrow with a different officer.

Ride-alongs put a bit of a different (positive) slant on things.... try it if you get the chance.

+1

 

[mrortega]

I've had one or two less-than-stellar interactions with a police officer, but that was many years ago.

I just spent 5 hours with an officer, and learned a lot. It was a very positive outing. He picked me up at my home, and I enjoyed the morning a great deal. We made arrangements for some range time, and he never mentioned the fact that I was openly carrying. I ride in the afternoon/evening tomorrow with a different officer.

Ride-alongs put a bit of a different (positive) slant on things.... try it if you get the chance.

+1

Pretty cool. If he had asked why you were carrying you could have told him the same thing that I told an officer when I had to open the gate to my shop several years ago at 2:00AM to check a burglar alarm. "In case you get whacked I still have a chance." Did he let you play with the cuffs and make a siren sound?

 

[Jay]

Did he let you play with the cuffs and make a siren sound?

No. In fact as I got out of the car, he thanked me for not "being one of those folks that wanted to play with the handcuffs, emergency lights, or siren".

 

[jsharmon7]

No. In fact as I got out of the car, he thanked me for not "being one of those folks that wanted to play with the handcuffs, emergency lights, or siren".

You never want to be "that guy."

 

[padawan]

Was your ride along with Indy Metro, County or ???

How do you arrange for a 'ride along'?

Sounds very interesting...

 

[Jay]

It was with a local officer. Contact the department head, and ask. Some departments will allow it, and some will not.

 

[Jay]

You never want to be "that guy."

I've always sorta figured that was the case...

 

[TVon]

You were allowed to open carry during the ride along?

 

[Jay]

You were allowed to open carry during the ride along?

Yes... it was never mentioned, by either of us....

 

[Benny]

Yes... it was never mentioned, by either of us....

Is carrying during a ride-along being OK/not OK on a department-by-department basis or do some LEO just choose to ignore the policy?

 

[rmabrey]

Is carrying during a ride-along being OK/not OK on a department-by-department basis or do some LEO just choose to ignore the policy?

The officer ignored policy

 

[Jay]

It's likely a trust issue. I don't know about the policies of other departments.

 

[Naptown]

I too, have heard that is a no no. I would feel safer CC myself rather than leaving a gun at home.

 

[Jay]

Good grief... when a cop does something that is perceived by a select few as being anti 2nd Amendment, that select few are the first ones pissin' and cryin' about it. Then when a cop does something in support of the 2nd Amendment, some folks **** and moan about that too. It's gotta be tough bein' a cop.

See, the issue of carrying during the ride-along was discussed Friday, and the Police Chief volunteered to check with the city attorney, to see if there was an issue he wasn't aware of. Nothing further was said. Does the Indiana code address the issue? I couldn't find anything.

I really intended this to be a positive thread, but it seems some folks just cant tolerate that.

 

[jedi]

Jay for some here ANYTHING the LEO does will ALWAYS be wrong. Does not matter is s/he is pro-rights, helping, etc.

 

[alloyguitar]

Hell, i'd be interested in doing a ridealong. Sounds interesting.

 

[Tripp11]

On a few ridealongs with the MCSD (now IMPD), carrying was not allowed per the officer I rode with. He indicated it was their internal policy, and even though we were college friends, he said it was not worth him getting fired over if it was ever discovered that I carried while on a ridealong. He did say that he didn't want to know if I did or did not, and he didn't want to see it.

I chose NOT to carry, even though I probably could have pocket carried.

 

[TVon]

Good grief... when a cop does something that is perceived by a select few as being anti 2nd Amendment, that select few are the first ones pissin' and cryin' about it. Then when a cop does something in support of the 2nd Amendment, some folks **** and moan about that too. It's gotta be tough bein' a cop.

See, the issue of carrying during the ride-along was discussed Friday, and the Police Chief volunteered to check with the city attorney, to see if there was an issue he wasn't aware of. Nothing further was said. Does the Indiana code address the issue? I couldn't find anything.

I really intended this to be a positive thread, but it seems some folks just cant tolerate that.

I'm not sure anyone is pissin' or cryin' about it. (at least, I know I wasn't when I first asked the question) I think what you are seeing here is more of a genuine surprise they allowed it in the first place. I'm guessing we all thought they would come up with some reason to not allow it.

 

[Jay]

I'm not sure anyone is pissin' or cryin' about it. (at least, I know I wasn't when I first asked the question) I think what you are seeing here is more of a genuine surprise they allowed it in the first place. I'm guessing we all thought they would come up with some reason to not allow it.

My post that you quoted was not directed at you, and I truly hope you are correct.

 

[ejm874]

Glad you had a positive experience. I've done many rides with state, county & city police across Indiana. Two departments had a strict 'no' policy, the third defers to officer discretion. The particular officer who eventually allowed me to carry did so after getting to know me after 2 or 3 rides and various non job-related interactions (friend-of-a-friend hangout sort of things). This particular officer became a good friend and was comfortable enough with my competence and judgment to allow it.
I've yet to encounter a situation during a ride along while armed where I was anywhere near needing to use it, but just like any other waking minute I prefer to know it is there just in case - particularly when riding nights.