Gun in the face

[bweird]

Hi Guys,

I've got a question. How many times have you had to pull your gun on someone and point it at them. Does this happen often or is it very rare? I've heard of LEO's that have gone their entire careers without drawing their weapon but I'm not sure how true it is. Any replies would be appreciated.

Brandon

[onegoodcop]

I think if you work in law enforcement nowadays the likelihood of you pulling your gun is high. I have had to pull quite a bit. I must note that for the last few years my assignments have been to Special Investigation Sections, dealing with "scum only" issues. A few of these times were even "quick draw". I got mine before he got his....

[RandyG]

Ive always wondered when you are permitted to use your weapon. Ive seen COPS shows when the LEO pulls his weapon and the criminal doesn't comply. Are they trying to bluff them into complying or just to get one step ahead incase something goes down?
It seems like in today's society, you could get sued for useing lethal force justifiably.
RandyG

[relative]

Ive been on two seperate ride alongs where an officer pulled their gun... both were during a "High Risk" car stop.

One was on a felony warrant, and the other was pulling a van full of teenagers over who had just committed ADW on another juvenile....

I think both of those instances warranted it, the officers were not sure how compliant the suspects were going to be, and they had both already showed their willingness to be a danger to others, so again I believe it was fully justified....

Today, I really do not understand how officers could say that they go their whole career without ever pulling their weapon out of their holster, it just seems to damn dangerous...

Now shooting it at somebody is totally different, obviously. But thats my .02!

-r.

[Kahuna5150]

I don't think it would be possible for an officer or deputy to go a whole career, (20+ years) without drawing their weapon. I think what you're hearing is many officers, (most) don't ever fire their weapon, (other than the range) during their careers.

Here are the times you will probably draw your gun on duty and outside of the range.

Felony Car Stop, (stolen auto, aut fleeing a felony, some other felony high risk information for the car in the system).

Burglary Searches, (you get an alarm, silent or audible at a residence or a business. wouldn't you know it they almost *ALWAYS* have an open door or garage somewhere). I know you may search a building with your gun drawn and not see anyone, so this might not fit your criteria.

Warrant service, (you are going in to a house to serve a narc warrant, or an arrest warrant, search warrant, etc. If the tactical team doesn't do the entry, you will more than likely have a weapon drawn when you do the entry).

The above duties probably happen many times in a month at most places, and at least a few times a year at the slower smaller areas.

As far as officers on COPS pulling their guns on suspects who aren't doing what they're told. Again I think you have to judge the totality of the circumstances. I don't think it's a bluff, (or it shouldn't be) I think some officers are probably adding up that it is not normal behavior for a suspect not to comply with you commands and you have your weapon ready in case they draw their own and until you can get them into custody. I would say COPS probably does cause some officers to draw their weapons or do some stupider things in order to play it up for the camera.

I wonder how many comp claims get filed by officers that have the COPS crew riding around with them for a night. I have *NEVER* seen so much head bobbing and looking around by an officer driving in the cars during the episodes. They look like birds bobbing their heads non-stop.

Kahuna

[Masscop]

Depends on where. Working in the worst part of a big city, very common. In Mayberry on the other hand......

[mikemac64]

Hey....I work in Mayberry, Massachusetts....the only problem with my Mayberry is we have a friggin mall.....

[try163]

I will tell you a common scenario for pulling your weapon that perhaps people have forgotten to mention.

After a foot pursuit and the guy runs into somebody's yard or garage and is hiding under something and you have to go in and get him. Damn well bet that I have my gun out.

My favorite part is when you do catch them and they look at you like you have two heads and say "What? what did I do?"

Had it happen to me last night. Chased a guy into a yard and caught him hiding underneath the person's trailer. Gun drawn and the ever powerful maglite beam in the eyes and he crawled out slowly. Anyway, better to have it out and not need it in certain cases. You can always put it away later.

TRY163

[kennethm3]

Two, maybe three times a week my pistol leaves my holster. Once, maybe twice a month I charge a round into either a shotgun or an M-4 carbine (both normally carried on an empty chamber-service policy) during a tense moment. Times in the last year that I have been in shoot/don't shoot situations at work: four.

[bweird]

Thanks for the replies. Pulling seems to happen a lot more than I thought. I think you guys are right, better have your gun out "just in case" than fumbling with it at the last minute.

[thp5577]

Depends on the officer himself, If you are (ROD) retired on duty. and you detour around possible risky calls so that you want have to leave your climate control vehicle. well the chances of breaking leather are very slim. I am not trying to be critical but every department has them, and yes there are plenty with my department. you must find one thing on your job that keeps you motivated, if that may be running radar to doing drug interdiction on local state highways. And if you find your special interest and work hard at it, and are proactive in law enforcement, like myself and many others, you will find yourself deploying your weapon quiet often........