Open carrying Police Chief in Uniform Told to Leave Gun Outside Ikea

Not unsurprising in Maryland on many levels, and particularly in Beltsville, where that Ikea is located. Duhhh.

A "Weapons Free Environment" sign. Cool. What section can I find those free Ikea weapons.

-Coming soon: The Testosterone-Free Environment!

Loss prevention, wait until the store gets held up, I bet the "loss prevention" officer isn't around.

GOOD

If they're going to have a stupid policy, it should apply to everyone, no matter what they're wearing.

I would have told the IKEA guy to call the police.

Just my .02,
LeonCarr

As much as it pains me, I must agree with dave-the-unskinny. The store has every right to set policy for officers shopping on their own time.

(I don't agree with their policy, but I agree they have the right to make it so. The exception for uniformed or just officers in general is up to them.)

If they're going to have a stupid policy, it should apply to everyone, no matter what they're wearing.

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I agree. The police are citizens, so unless the chief was there on official business the policy should apply to him just as it does every other citizen.

I'm with BigFatDave and Ugaarguy on this one. What's good for the goose is good for the gander, as they say.

bigfatdave said:

GOOD

If they're going to have a stupid policy, it should apply to everyone, no matter what they're wearing.

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Considering how many police chiefs along the eastern seaboard have raised the "guns are bad" banner it would appear to simply be a business responding to advertising. Sow dissension and reap the whirlwind and all that.

I'm opening a restaurant, requiring that police disarm and giving discounts to non-police if they Open Carry

Welcome to BigFatDave's Smoking Barrel, folks.
Real BBQ all day every day, with a carnival-style airgun range out back for the kids.

I would have told the IKEA guy to call the police.

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... and then asked the employee to advise the responding officers they'll need to doff their sidearms before coming inside.

ugaarguy said:

I agree. The police are citizens, so unless the chief was there on official business the policy should apply to him just as it does every other citizen.

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I don't agree in the gun-free policy, but if he is salaried (vs. hourly) as I would expect a police chief to be, then he would always be "on duty" ... even when shopping. Would it not be unfortunate for him to have left his sidearm in the vehicle and there had been a police emergency where seconds count and he be unarmed?

Bottom line, the loss prevention guy screwed up.

chuck

I did a career in the military and I was paid a salary. Unlike police officers I was never paid overtime either. Are you saying that I was considered "on duty 24/7" too?

The "I'm always on duty, 24/7" is an invention of the police departments and the police themselves, there are plenty of examples of police being "off duty" officially.

A quote from the comments section of the article:

911 what is your emergency?
This is the Ikea store we have a man with a gun who has taken hostages in the store.
Officers are on the way.
Tell them we are a weapon free area they have to leave their guns in their cars before entering the store!

Dispatch to all units responding to the man with a gun at the Ikea, Disregard.

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All LE are on call 24/7. The loss prevention guy needs more training.

But still,,,

If that is their stated store policy,,,
The LEO is bound by law to accept it.

I for one am sick and tired of LEO thinking they are special.

I've heard the "I go where you won't and do what you can't" speech too often.

On duty, the loss prevention rent-a-cop can suck eggs,,,
Off duty, cops are private citizens just like I am,,,
They can obey the law of the land as well.

Aarond

.

P.S.

All LE are on call 24/7. The loss prevention guy needs more training.

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No, they are not.
They promote that misconception,,,
So they can justify carrying their guns when off duty.

I do realize the need for a off duty cop to be armed,,,
It's to deter the guy they just gave a ticket to,,,
From coming at them when they're off duty.

The on duty 24/7 argument is just another point to argue.

.

Tacoma Park has also declared themselves a "nuclear free zone", so no open carrying those nukes, OK?

Tacoma Park has also declared themselves a "nuclear free zone"

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I was going to say that. That town takes "political correctness" to a whole new level. So much so that it's a standing joke even in the general Washington, D.C., area. To say that you're too liberal on the Maryland side of the D.C. area is really saying something.

Just to add some LEO perspective to this , I'm not on duty 24/7. not even close , when I'm off duty, I'm off duty, I'll respond when off duty as required, and carry my firearm per department policy , but if I'm asked to disarm or leave, then I leave . Any place that would disarm me , doesn't need my business . I don't wear a uniform, but am required to display my shield near my weapon when on duty, but again, I don't assert special privilege or "right" If a property owner or business owner asserts that I'm not welcome, while armed , I do what any citizen should, and leave.

If he was on duty then he shouldn't be shopping at IKEA.

joeschmoe said:

If he was on duty then he shouldn't be shopping at IKEA.

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Shopping on duty is known as a business check.

Is that what a police Chief gets paid for? No. He has an entire department for that.

Our police Chief did leave his gun in the car. It was then stolen. It wasn't the first duty weapon he lost. He got promoted to Washington, DC. He's doing a swell job as head of the border patrol and customs.

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gil_Kerlikowske

tangomike706 said:

Just to add some LEO perspective to this , I'm not on duty 24/7. not even close , when I'm off duty, I'm off duty, I'll respond when off duty as required, and carry my firearm per department policy , but if I'm asked to disarm or leave, then I leave . Any place that would disarm me , doesn't need my business . I don't wear a uniform, but am required to display my shield near my weapon when on duty, but again, I don't assert special privilege or "right" If a property owner or business owner asserts that I'm not welcome, while armed , I do what any citizen should, and leave.

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I do agree with many posters that off duty police deserve no more special treatment than anyone else.

I'm sorry though if you feel like I am not respecting what you do. Your post above that I quoted shows me that you are definitely the type of LEO that deserves my respect. Keep yourself safe out there.

I'm opening a restaurant, requiring that police disarm and giving discounts to non-police if they Open Carry

Welcome to BigFatDave's Smoking Barrel, folks.
Real BBQ all day every day, with a carnival-style airgun range out back for the kids.

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If you open one of these within 100 miles of my house I will go out of my way to patronize it.