What Do You Do?

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Trunk Monkey

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This actually happened to me about six months ago at work. Before I give the scenario let me say that the physical circumstances were beyond my control.

What I mean is the facility I was working at was closed for business but the front gate was open because they had trucks coming and going all night long. That's how the client wanted it and it was not within the scope of my duties to close the gate, which would have rendered the question I'm about to ask moot.

So I'm at work posted at the front gate when a black SUV drives onto the site and stops. As my post orders dictate I approached the vehicle and inform the driver that the facility closed for the night and ask if there's something I can help him with.

As I'm probably 10 feet away from the vehicle he looks at me and reaches into the passenger seat. I asked him to please keep his hands visible and and he responds "Oh F off, I'm a cop."

As I continue to approach the car he produced a valid set of CSPD credentials he was a cop. But I didn't know that till I saw his credentials and as I approached the vehicle there was in fact a gun on the seat. Which of course turned out to be irrelevant in this situation but don't think it never happens.

Discuss

ETA In my particular situation he knew who I was. He watched me get out of a clearly marked vehicle that said Top Flight Security on it. I was wearing uniform and in Colorado Springs the uniform is required to plainly say private security on it and I had my high speed yellow safety vest on.
 
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What facility is it

Private business, shipping company.

what are your duties?

General Security. Access Control. Check the trucks make sure they're locked. Keep Tweakers out.

What is your employer's policy with regards to you possibly producing a firearm in a case like this?

It's private security. If my gun comes out of my holster I'm fired.

But even if my employer backed me 100%, pulling a gun on a cop isn't going to end well.

But even taking the private security element out of it. You're walking through a parking lot at night just going to your car and somebody does the same thing what do you do?

Because given that it was actually a cop even if you square up and get ready to draw it's not going to end well
 
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Pretty much a no win situation for someone in your line of work (and I suspect similar mini- confrontations occur wherever cops and private security come into contact occasionally..). A good portion of that particular problem rests with the "officer" side of the equation though...

Wish I could say that I was never an arrogant badge heavy Alpha Hotel when I was a cop... Most of that sort of stuff did go away for me as I mellowed out (over a 22 year span you do change how you operate... thank heavens...). In later years, as a sergeant and then a lieutenant I can remember more than one situation described to me by either a citizen or one of my officers pointing the blame at the private security side of the equation as well...

What I'd advise any officer or private security when dealing with something that might or might not involve a possibly armed encounter... is simply an abundance of caution in tactics... There are times when not approaching a suspicious situation might be the better course of action - or simply doing so in a manner where you're not breaking cover - just in case... No matter how puckered up you might be inside try to never show it. A relaxed confident manner is a very good tool to have in your arsenal (even if inside your alarm bells are going off and getting louder.... ). Wish someone had taught me that when I was a rookie (and that I'd had the good sense to listen back then....).
 
This actually happened to me about six months ago at work. Before I give the scenario let me say that the physical circumstances were beyond my control.

What I mean is the facility I was working at was closed for business but the front gate was open because they had trucks coming and going all night long. That's how the client wanted it and it was not within the scope of my duties to close the gate, which would have rendered the question I'm about to ask moot.

So I'm at work posted at the front gate when a black SUV drives onto the site and stops. As my post orders dictate I approached the vehicle and inform the driver that the facility closed for the night and ask if there's something I can help him with.

As I'm probably 10 feet away from the vehicle he looks at me and reaches into the passenger seat. I asked him to please keep his hands visible and and he responds "Oh F off, I'm a cop."

As I continue to approach the car he produced a valid set of CSPD credentials he was a cop. But I didn't know that till I saw his credentials and as I approached the vehicle there was in fact a gun on the seat. Which of course turned out to be irrelevant in this situation but don't think it never happens.

Discuss

ETA In my particular situation he knew who I was. He watched me get out of a clearly marked vehicle that an Top Flight Security on it. I was wearing uniform and in Colorado Springs the uniform is required to plainly say private security on it and I had my high speed yellow safety vest on.
From the perspective of a retired LEO.

I had a similar incident when ON DUTY,off duty was spotted "watching" a building from a distance.

He was approached by THREE marked cars & uniformed officers.

He got VERY snarky when asked to show I.D. and then step from his vehicle.,Then upon pat down a GUN was found = THAT IS WHEN he mentioned he was an off duty on a side job.

He was facing three LEO's ,and 2 of them him at gun POINT !.

So as a former D/T and firearms instructors, I sorry you ran across his twin brother :)

And if your "fired" for drawing your rosco,get another job !

Forgot to mention that before I was an LEO, I did a stint as an "armed guard" with patrolling a ghetto as duty,and then as a armored car driver/guard.

And also a few years as auxiliary officer for my city [ thankless job too].
 
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I’m not nor ever have been a cop, and I have the utmost respect for the job they do.

that said, this guy was an azzhat!

why was he there?
 
From a self preservation standpoint, moving toward the rear of the vehicle (regardless of which side of it you are on) puts him in a worse position, tactically speaking, from which to fire on you. Basically moving into the driver's blind spot.

From a professional angle, I'd have had his badge number and taken it up my chain of command, to see if a formal complaint could be made with the PD. Private property; he failed to identify himself whilst ignoring a command given to keep you (a uniformed security guard) safe. Poor form.
 
Something to remember ... in today’s world with more and more ordinary folks becoming armed citizens, any of us might encounter another that’s armed (and not necessarily private security or a police officer..).

Probably a very good idea to make sure all of us make a point of at least appearing non-threatening as we approach any stranger until we have cause to act otherwise...
 
why was he there?

I don't work in a wonderful neighborhood. The hotel right next to the shipping company I call the Heroin Hotel, I'll let you figure out why. The cop was scoping out the fence line to see if there was a way to get into the Heroin Hotel before they raided it.

That's another reason I know the guy was legitimately a cop because about an hour later I heard the flashbangs go off and next thing you know there were cops all over the Heroin Hotel.
 
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Seems to me, he was the one with attitude. It would have been better for all concerned if he had immediately identified himself and put you at ease. You handled it well under the circumstances. I would probably have freaked.
 
I’m being judgy for someone with zero LEO or Security experience.....but it would have been helpful for the cop to flash a badge as you approached.

He did. He was reaching for the badge as I approached

"How nice for you, now please keep your hands visible."

I all seriousness, that is a tough one for sure.

A lot of LEO can be really great folks, but too many are the "F off I'm a cop" type.

That wouldn't have accomplished anything
 
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I don't want this to be a Cop v. Security per se.

Apply it to your situation, someone who looks pretty damn shady approaches you and responds to your statement that you're concerned by telling you they're a cop but doesn't immediately provide proof.

What do you do
 
What was he doing there?

I did the for 20 years. If I entered a gaurded area, I a!ways checked with the guard first for two reasons
1It is the right thing to do.
2 I might need the backup

Drug raid on the property next to us.

Which as a side note was a really stupid thing for him to tell me. He didn't know I wasn't going to tip-off the drug dealer
 
Apply it to your situation, someone who looks pretty damn shady approaches you and responds to your statement that you're concerned by telling you they're a cop but doesn't immediately provide proof.

What do you do

"I have absolutely no reason to believe that." Then I'd watch the hands, mentally consider where the nearest cover was, and get ready to move; either towards the cover; or at an angle away from the draw stroke I believed they may be making. And I'd mentally get ready to draw, myself.

It's a tough situation. As a plain clothed civilian, all I think I could do (specifics aside) is be aware, be ready, and not make an aggressive move unless/until I had to. I can't see drawing my CCW on a cop working out any way other than various degrees of badly.
 
I don't want this to be a Cop v. Security per se.

Apply it to your situation, someone who looks pretty damn shady approaches you and responds to your statement that you're concerned by telling you they're a cop but doesn't immediately provide proof.

What do you do
Keep cover handy. Plan B has to be immediate. The job by definition puts you in danger. If your use of force restrictions are that tight, be smart. Moving from cover to investigate something, or confront, puts you in danger. You gotta go home at the end of the shift.

Obviously, he knew what the situation was before you did. He had the opportunity to be polite, and extend some verbal courtesy that would have put you at ease. I worked a similar situation at one time, as a firefighter/officer at an airport. The deputies treated us like crap. It was irritating, but there really was no solution. Be safe. Ask your bosses for guidance.
 
This particular officer needs some remedial training pronto, and maybe an unpaid vacation. I can't imagine going into someone else's house and behaving that way. I'm sure that over my career I've displayed some attitude, but this was just stupid. If he worked for me, we'd have a long discussion about temperament, community relations, and his fitness\desire to continue in that agency.

I use a term in my lectures to badge heavy idiots that look salvageable. WWAGD? (What Would Andy Griffith Do?)
 
Individual attitudes are not equal and consideration of others is decided this way.

I have had Police officers approach the vehicle I have been in where my hands are on the rolled down window with license and registration in one of them clearly visible.

Some ask, “Do you know why I pulled you over?” Or simple state, “I pulled you over because...” Once one asked, “Why are your hands out the window, are you a felon or something?”

My intentions were the same in all cases, the interpretation received by the officers were completely different.

Doesn’t matter who I am dealing with or where. In “intense” situations I try and keep them as brief as possible without escalation.

Sounds like you did as good as you could have, depending on where you were relative to the drivers window.

If he had told me the story about telling some security guard or property owner to “f off I’m a cop.” I would have reminded him, only HE knew that at the time and people get shot making the wrong move all the time. Maybe “I am an officer, let me show you my identification.” Then proceed slowly, would be better next time, lest your wife get a folded flag instead of you back home.
 
So he pulls into private property, sees you're charged with security of that property, and still acts like that? This wasn't a hot pursuit situation, he was factually trespassing while armed.

Sounds like he needs a talking to by someone on his job above his level.
 
17 years experience in your job. I've run into those officers on occasion. Far more good interactions however. There is really nothing else you could have done differently.
 
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