Safety Concern? Making too much of this?

[Fish Miner]

Saftey Concern? Making too much of this?

Today at lunch I was in line when two plain clothes officers from my University (I work at a University, this was in an off-campus location) came in and were inline. One of the officers was fingering his sidearm when I heard the clip of his Kydex holster ( indicating he had triggered the release and was drawing his side arm) as I turned and watched he pulled the gun out a couple inches and put it back and then re-performed this maneuver about three time in quick succession. I was pretty shocked an officer would do this in a crowded line in full view of everyone.

Now no one seemed to notice but all I thought was what happens if he had a AD/ND when playing with his sidearm? An undercover officer was shot at our football game a few years back for improperly pulling his weapon and firing a shot. He was killed in the line of duty by another officer.

Am I making too much of this? I am debating whether I send a note to the police chief about it...

 

[The Bushmaster]

Send the note. Absolutely send the note. If you had done that you would be in jail now. Whether he was doing it innocently or absent mindely, he was harrassing the public. You said "plain clothes"? Idiot!!!

 

[AirForceShooter]

if his finger wasn't on the trigger what's the problem.
I know a few LEO's that do it for a sense of security and to practice muscle memory.

AFS

 

[The Bushmaster]

In public? Again...If I were to practice that [in public] I would be arrested. What he was doing, even if he didn't have his booger hook on the trigger, was dangerous...

He can do it at home with an empty gun like I do...

 

[Fish Miner]

I agree the probability of an accident was low, they are supposedly trained professionals, but I think he would have noticed me doing it and might have had a problem with it.

Plus, what if the trigger got caught on his holster/shirt/cell phone etc and discharged? I think I am going to send a note to the Chief just to remind his staff of the four rules...

 

[hso]

Send the note and identify the officer.

What type of off campus facility was it?

 

[Fish Miner]

Mexican eatery- Rice and Beans But half the people in there are University Admin/Student/Faculty- so it is not as if they were in a unknown area. Plus with what happened to our undercover officer I would think that when in plain clothes they would be very aware of their action involving firearms...

Here is what I sent and got back from the University Police- Names removed....

Thank you for your concerns. I agree with your comments and I would like to be able to address them with the officers concerned. Do you know their names or can you describe them? If you don't know, that's ok, I will ask our training unit to address it in a training bulletin. Thanks again for your constructive comments and support.
Stay safe!
Jerry


Subject: Safety Concern- Gun Handling

To Whom it May Concern,

Today at lunch I was in line at El Correl restaurant ordering my lunch when two UCF plain clothed officers came in to the restaurant. While standing in line one officer proceeded to finger his side arm and even manipulated the safety release on his holster partially withdrawing his weapon and sliding it back in. He did this about three times in succession- almost as a habit it appeared. I stress that the gun never left the holster all the way but as an avid shooter and supporter of 2nd Amendment rights I saw this as a major violation of gun safety rules. The potential for a AD/ND while "playing" with your firearm, while however slim, is too real to go unmentioned. I do not feel punishment is warranted or anything like that, but perhaps a reminder to the officers that the only time sidearms are to be handled is when they are intended to be used in the course of duty. Thank you for listening to my concerns, please keep up the great work on behalf of our University.

John

 

[Vermont]

It sounds like you handled it perfectly.

 

[The Bushmaster]

Excellently exicuted...Well done.

 

[Fish Miner]

Wow- I actually just got a call from the department thanking me for bringing to their attention- they are going to treat it as a training opportunity and also move towards the practice of wearing a sports coat to cover when out in public/off campus.

Actually makes me feel alot better, I didn't want to be a marked man by our Campus PD- I got a tailgating party to do this weekend

Stay safe out there-

 

[jnyork]

Good job, fish miner, you handled that in a mature and levelheaded manner and it brought about a great outcome.

 

[Frank Ettin]

Well done, Fish Miner. I completely agree with you that the officer's actions were inappropriate in public. One should not be fooling around with a holstered gun.

I know a few LEO's that do it for a sense of security and to practice muscle memory.

Then it should be done in private after the weapon and surroundings have been properly prepared for dry practice.

 

[f4t9r]

no need to do that with a bunch of people around.
He can practice at a better location

 

[DFW1911]

Good for you A) for noticing and B) caring enough to take action.

Nice work!
DFW1911

 

[Kind of Blued]

Good work. That would definitely disturb me, more than it did you it seems.

I was going to suggest spelling out "accidental discharge" and "negligent discharge", but apparently they got the message.

Sometimes I wish I could practice my draw while alone in an elevator, but I think better of it.

 

[Stover954rr]

Excellent.... well handled, a perfect response. That is a great way to show the maturity of 2nd Amend. Advocates.

Say enough to show you care, and know right from wrong, but don't come across as a know-it-all mall ninja.

Reading this thread made me smile

 

[hacksaw]

VERY "High Road" all the way around

 

[Fish Miner]

Cool- I done good I was pretty unsure if I was going to open up a can of worms, but the PD was respectful and made me feel actually good about reporting it. So all's well that ends well.

Happy Halloween

 

[DoubleTapDrew]

That's something that should not be done in public. Wonder what his reaction would have been if you started doing the same thing...

 

[B yond]

Never remove your weapon from its holster in public unless you need to use it.

It doesn't matter if you're a cop or not. People who play with loaded guns are idiots. People who do it around other people are dangerous idiots. Police officers who do it in public are incompetent dangerous idiots.

 

[Seenterman]

Good Job

Nice letter and good responce from uh Jerry whoever that is, but hey you might have helped prevent a future ND/AD.

 

[bdickens]

Thumbs up.

 

[The Bushmaster]

Good idea Kind of Blued. They have cameras in some elevators... Can you amagin as the doors open and 16 cops are standing at the ready with guns drawn all pointed at you...?

 

[RPCVYemen]

One of the officers was fingering his sidearm when I heard the clip of his Kydex holster ( indicating he had triggered the release and was drawing his side arm) as I turned and watched he pulled the gun out a couple inches and put it back and then re-performed this maneuver about three time in quick succession.

Did the weapon clear the holster? When you say "he pulled the gun out a couple of inches", do you mean he was moving the gun up and down in the holster?

If that's the case, then the weapon was always pointed towards the ground, and he finger was not on the trigger. Seem perfectly safe to me. It was a bit unusual, but I don't there is a safety issue.

Evil

 

[TRGRHPY]

Excellent handling of the situation. I don't think that the letter could have been written any better. You stressed what a major safety violation it was, but then also mention that you don't think that any punishment is warranted. That neutralized any potential hostility, showed yourself as a concerned but with justification, and in their own words, turned the situation into a training opportunity. Well done. Ambassador?