Police officer investigates a man with a gun (Video)

[TexasBill]

I was a bit surprised that Jeremy didn't have to show ID but I guess the requirement varies from state to state.

I don't know about San Diego County, but some county DAs have instructed LEOs in their jurisdiction to crank up the hostility, even approaching an open carrier with drawn sidearms. This officer was a breath of fresh air.

Cops are trained to notice things out of the ordinary and in most parts of the country, a guy walking down the street with a holstered handgun is out of the ordinary. Is that enough to justify a Terry stop? Probably depends on the jurisdiction, but I can't see that it's worth a ride downtown until the officer can determine who I am so I would probably be willing to show my identification.

 

[martialartsblackbelt]

very well done officer! what a great guy and LEO! lets spread this video around to other forums and our social networking sites.

 

[SaxonPig]

Doesn't make any difference how polite the cop was if he was acting illegally. Also makes no difference if the citizen was being obnoxious. The law doesn't require one to be polite to police. Yes, it's a good idea, but it's not required. I personally have no problem with producing ID when there is valid reason for police to ask for it. But if the law doesn't require it then one is not obligated to do it.

Did the cop have legal cause to stop the armed man? Were his actions (detaining, searching, seizing the weapon, demanding ID, etc.) within his legal jurisdiction?

If carrying openly is legal then a citizen complaint about an armed man is meaningless. It does NOT constitute probable cause because since it is legal to carry a gun then carrying one does not give the cop reason to suspect a crime has been committed.

A polite cop can still be part of a police state.

 

[Ben86]

For those who are understandably upset by the Canton, Ohio police officer's behavior and who haven't heard the latest development in the case, it's my understanding that he has been relieved from duty (suspended) pending "further investigation". If I were Canton city officials, I'd be bracing for a law-suit having plenty of merit, charging their police department with violating a citizen's civil rights.

That's good to hear. I hate to attack a man's livelihood, but we really don't need police officers prone to such acts of thuggery. He ought to be fired ASAP. Law abiding citizens should never be treated like that.

 

[au01st]

For those of you who wonder about him producing ID, if he was walking down the street and stopped and asked for ID, would you still think he should produce it?

Papers, please?

Doing something not illegal should not be reason for one to produce ID. If you live in a state where it is, I'm terribly sorry...

 

[BobTheTomato]

We have folks trolling for PD lawsuits in WI, who carry the same attitude as "Jerry". It's really getting old.

Maybe if the cops knew the law, people would not get illegally stopped and have the ability to sue the state for the ignorance of their employees. Normal people are told that ignorance of the law is no excuse. The same is the case here. It is the cops JOB to know the law. If he is unable to do that he should find a new job. The same problem exists here in PA where some cops harass people who open carry and are not breaking the law. Many people who OC need to be rude and bust out recording devices because they are hassled by cops for doing nothing but exercising their rights.