Irresponsible behavior by LEO?

[Alex45ACP]

A few days ago I was at the gym. The gym is unstaffed and members get a key that unlocks the door. There was one other person there.

I saw a police officer in full uniform come into the building with a gym bag and I was very surprised when he took off his belt, body armor and uniform shirt, left them on the floor about 10 feet away from the treadmill I was using, and started working out.

His belt had his gun (a Glock) and pepper spray, and whatever else cops keep on their belts. I couldn't see because of the way the belt was lying on the floor, but his gun and pepper spray were definitely on there.

He did not even stay close to his gun while he was working out. He spent most of his time on the other side of the gym. If I or the other guy training there had bad intentions, it would have been extremely easy to take the gun. I had to walk right past it a few times to get to the water fountain and he didn't seem to notice.

This strikes me as extremely irresponsible behavior and I am also very irritated by the double standard here. I can't even open carry in this state, but a cop can just leave his gun lying around unattended?

What do you think about this?

 

[Moonclip]

He probably felt secure in that enviroment and the gun is probably in a retention holster but I think that was silly, he's not impressing me.

Why doesn't he just put his stuff in a locker or in his car trunk?

 

[FCFC]

This strikes me as extremely irresponsible behavior and I am also very irritated by the double standard here. I can't even open carry in this state, but a cop can just leave his gun lying around unattended?

I don't see the linkage.

 

[Gerald in Ga]

Howdy,
You should have called the police and reported an unattended firearm. Let him explain it to his boss.

 

[Old School]

I can't imagine leaving a firearm unattended anywhere where there are people. Somebody needs to talk to him just to prevent a tragedy.

 

[Blacksmoke]

Since the subject is "irresponsible LEOs", in 1973 I stopped at a Denny's for a bite. Parked in front were two California Highway Patrol Harley Davidsons. I walked by looking at them close up. The key was in one. Something came over me (Stupidity) and I turned the swith to "on". Immediately the siren came on and I quickly switched the key to off. The key switch was mounted on the top of the combo tanks. I look up and there at the doorway stand two CHP Motor officers each with a big grin on their faces. I guess this was some kind of set-up or joke. Cop humor.

 

[TexasSkyhawk]

In my old agency, OPR would've chewed you up--minimum unpaid suspension of at least 90 days, but termination more likely.

If nothing else, the genius should've left it locked in the trunk of his patrol car.

However, I AM GLAD that at least he was there working out. Compared to too many whales-in-making (and quite a few who are already there), at least he's trying to stay fit. I'll give him that.

Jeff

 

[Eric F]

I dont know about this, but I could run with this one either way. He was wrong but are we making a big deal about this more than which is necessary?

 

[Treo]

I think if any thing the incident showed a lack of professionalism.
But I fail to see that he was anymore irresponsible than some private gun owners I've seen. Are you really concerned or are you just pissed off because you can't opencarry?

 

[Grey_Mana]

Who works out in uniform? Was he a scrub, trying out the equipment for the first time (suggesting carelessness and ignorance), or was he a regular (suggesting something horrible happened at work, and he working out without changing because he's trying to deal with his emotions & stress)? It's still not acceptable, but it would be a lot more understandable if he'd just come off a bad shift.

 

[Old Dog]

To Alex45ACP: So what prevented you from speaking to the officer and addressing your concerns with him? Perhaps mentioning to him, "Excuse me, Officer, not meaning to be nosy, but you may want to lock up your duty belt and weapon -- not every patron of this gym may be as honest as I ..." Believe it or not, some cops can actually take advice or criticism, when it's warranted -- and in this case, it was.

If you spot someone doing something wrong -- here, very wrong and stupid to boot -- you have a right to address it to the culprit, even if said culprit is a uniformed law enforcement officer. Then, and only then, can you say you did the right thing.

No point in whining about someone else's "irresponsible behavior" if you didn't take any steps to address it at the time, and you certainly could, and should, have addressed it to the officer.

 

[Atla]

I've never found cops to be overly bright creatures. Shame I'm going to be one. ;(

 

[jhansman]

Just imagine if, while on duty (or off), he observed you doing something equally irresponsible or dangerous. What do you think he would have done? I think cops, more than anyone, need to be held to the same or higher standards as your average Joe. Problem is, far too many believe or think they are exempt from such scrutiny by virtue of badge and gun.

 

[MedWheeler]

Not anything I would have done. However, without having actually been there, seen who was around, and having the "feel" for the place you did, I can't comment on whether or not it was a "big deal". Hopefully, it's not a habit he has.
Many cops don't welcome unsolicited advice, but many don't have a problem with it. I might have, depending on how many people were around, told him that "one of these guys was kinda looking at your weapon funny", and just not told him who, maybe saying the looker had already left. Maybe "qualify yourself" a little, saying you're ex-LE, Army, a private frearms instructor, or something.

 

[wheelgunslinger]

At a gym I used to use there was a broad spectrum of LE types from locals townies to fed to troopers.
The lockers were made of this composite wood with the hardware mounted through them. All anyone would had to have done is kick a door hard or bring a crowbar and they'd have a gun. So, the locker isn't always the best idea.

But, I never saw a duty belt on the floor.
That's careless. But, like skyhawk said, at least he was in there doing something and not just exceeding the weight limit of his belt.

Meh. If someone had grabbed his gun, you can bet that every officer in the country would likely be hearing about it in the next shift meeting. How many do you think are paranoid about being the next one to leave his glock in a bathroom stall?

 

[jaholder1971]

Sounds like the guy was on his lunch break, trying to get in a workout. He's probably subject to call, so he's gotta keep his stuff close by.

Wow! I love the think of some of you here: Cops are bad because of their distrust of citizens and in one instance where the guy shows some trust in a relatively secured area he's irresponsible. No cop bashers here [/sarcasm]

I guess the next time you leave you guns on the bench while to go downrange to change targets we should call the cops and report YOUR irresponsibility.

 

[bogie]

He probably figured that it was a low risk situation, since most health clubs are essentially controlled members only environments, so he didn't worry about it other than likely keeping one eye out for people who'd try to do stupid stuff.

He may also have been told that he is not allowed to secure it in either a car trunk or a gym locker... Catch-22 from a lot of bureaucrats, you know?

 

[Z71]

I've been a LEO myself in the past.

Cops are not supermen or rocket scientists! Just everyday folks that screw up with the best of them.

I always thought(even as a cop myself) that many in law enforcement are there because they are not suitable to do anything more demanding. That statement is focused more on small town policing. I wouldn't want to be a big city cop at all! When I was a cop in our small town, many of my comrades in black(not blue) didn't impress me with their intelligence, or drive to get something done!

I remember mentioning something about this to our chief concerning a brother officer. His reply was "at least he can drive the car and look like he's busy"!!!

 

[Big45]

I've never found cops to be overly bright creatures. Shame I'm going to be one. ;(

Jeff White pm you yet?

Look the guy obviously felt comfortable enough to leave his stuff lying there. Maybe it was careless, maybe not. Might be a different story if he left it unattended on the streets of say South Central LA. Now that would be an issue. But the gym? THIS gym? He obviously assesses it as a non issue. So what's the big deal?

Second, why aren't you focused on working out?

 

[Frog48]

Sure, it was a stupid mistake. But its not anything to get worked up about.

 

[KelVarnson]

Seeing as this guy is a representative of the group that gets to decide whether or not you get to posess and carry a gun, then yes, I would say this is something that should bother you.

Kinda like when I saw a local LEO use his collapsible baton (a very useful weapon that I am prohibited from posessing) to pick up a piece of trash in the park.

 

[ilbob]

when I was in high school, cops around here routinely left their cars running when they stopped and exited their vehicles.

several high profile cases of cop cars taken forced them to modify that practice.

it does not seem like a real bright move on his part. what does he do with it while he showers?

 

[ilbob]

I've never found cops to be overly bright creatures. Shame I'm going to be one.

just remember that 50% of the population at large is below average.

I don't think cops are especially dumb, as the real dumb get weeded out by the selection process. The leaves the average dumb, and that can be a lot of dumb. Think about some of the things you or your coworkers have done over the years. I knew a guy who decided it would be a good idea to move a train car with a fork lift. It never occurred to him that the forklift can get the car moving, but can't do diddly to stop it, but the derailler can.

Kinda like when I saw a local LEO use his collapsible baton (a very useful weapon that I am prohibited from possessing) to pick up a piece of trash in the park.

I once saw a county sheriff's cop standing in the middle of a road trying to move a large piece of tire with a baton. Guess he did not want to get his hands dirty. I watched him in my rear view mirror eventually give up and pick it up with his hands and drag it off the road. I thought it was a pretty decent thing for him to do. He could just as easily left it there or just called in a report for the road department.

 

[brerrabbit]

I do not think LE are dumb either.

The last stats I found placed them right around average. Not stupid, not exceptionally bright, but right in the middle of the bell curve where most people reside.

As far as leaving the belt with firearm out in the open unattended, would it have been proper to leave a personal firearm that way?

 

[Reyn]

Seeing as this guy is a representative of the group that gets to decide whether or not you get to posess and carry a gun, then yes, I would say this is something that should bother you.

Kinda like when I saw a local LEO use his collapsible baton (a very useful weapon that I am prohibited from posessing) to pick up a piece of trash in the park

Are you saying you were bothered because an officer took out his asp to pickup a piece of trash?