Something goes bump in the night...

[TenMillimaster]

This is based on an interesting line of inquiry in the general gun discussions subforum:

You hear something go bump in the night. Being the suspicious sort, you go to investigate what it is- perhaps gun in hand. Could have been a burglar, but turns out it's the cops for whatever reason.

How do you communicate that you are a non-threat before getting shot? Ditching your weapon? Hands immediately in the air?

Or should your modus operandi to not be wandering about your home with a firearm in hand when something goes bump in the night?

 

[Kleanbore]

Search on "clearing your house". There have been numerous discussions on the subject.

 

[Six]

When you start to plan for what to do in the case that the police enters your home unannounced and uninvited, there is something seriously wrong with either you or the police .

I refuse to entertain the idea that that would happen.

The day I start to seriously consider it a possibility, I will pack my house up and move.

 

[Sam1911]

Search on "clearing your house". There have been numerous discussions on the subject.

Actually I'd search on "Don't clear your house," too, as I believe that was one of the longest threads on the subject.

Basically it boils down to using your advantage of position -- i.e. DON'T go searching through your house for trouble, but hunker down and use your ears, eyes, security system, dog, and other senses or aids to determine what is actually happening before you rush out into trouble.

Whether it is a very bad guy (or three) armed with guns, or representatives of your local law-enforcement agency, running into their midst before you know the score is a bad, BAD thing. And, regardless of which it is (or neither) arming and waiting at a point of strong defense, using your ears and brain to figure out what's really going on is a good, GOOD thing.

Grab your gun, get to your safe position where you can cover the approaches, get your wife on the phone with 911, and think your way through the situation.

You might want to yell a challenge ("STOP! I am armed and the police are on the way! Do not come any closer!" Etc.) to whomever is out there. If it is the police you just established the dialog that will lead to a standing down of arms and safe exit. If it isn't the police, you just alerted the bad guys that their cover is blown, their time is short, and that you (probably) will ruin their evening if they try to rush your position. That's also a good step to a safe exit from the situation.

 

[TenMillimaster]

It still might be something to plan for- for whatever reason. Wrongful police raids have happened before- like the story in the general discussion that prompted my post. (A man's home was searched on account of his wife who no longer living with him at the time.) It's a stretch, and I agree that it wouldn't happen often and if it does... I would MOVE! But because it might not happen doesn't mean it won't.

http://abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=95475&page=1

Edit: Thanks Sam1911. That line of thinking makes quite a bit of sense.

 

[shiftyer1]

I can't speak for police accidently inside the house but I had one on my back porch, I found him before his partner knocked on the front door. My dog was going nuts so I went out back to check it out. I shouted who's out here, he identified himself, I told him I was armed and to be still while I turned the porch light on. He was responding to a domestic matter 2 houses down and had the wrong address.

It probably wasn't the best way to go about it but it worked out for both of us. I would think it would be alot more touchy inside the house. A verbal challenge of some sort is very important imho.

 

[Jim NE]

Yeah, wrong addresses are not unheard of in police work. Not always their fault...could've been called in wrong. That's one of many good reasons not to be trigger happy.

 

[Loosedhorse]

you go to investigate what it is- perhaps gun in hand

Definitely with gun in hand. Flashlight in the other. And another flashlight on the gun, as back-up.

My "investigating" will be done mainly with my ears. As soon as I've heard enough to tell me there ARE in fact intruders, I retreat to my bedroom, and call 911. Police entry teams are good, but I don't think they're silent.

How do you communicate that you are a non-threat before getting shot? Ditching your weapon? Hands immediately in the air?

Yup. Yelling something like "POLICE!"--you see a whole lot of police, don't you?--and dropping to your knees would both be nice touches.

Of course, you may get a lot of help, in the form of shouts of "Drop the weapon!" and "On the ground, now!" Or a few projectiles to your COM.

So, I'd rather avoid that scenario, and staying behind a locked bedroom door, on the phone, is a better tactic.

 

[Ole Coot]

Where I live out in the country the odds are high that this would happen. I have alarms, motion detectors, flood lights and a dog that barks. I should have plenty of time to detect the markings and or uniforms of the LEOs. I know most of them in this area. If not I would open a window and ask them to identify themselves, no lights inside naturally. I would have a weapon out of sight just to make me feel better.

 

[lemaymiami]

What Sam said, x2....

Now for a true life, nightmare scenario.... This guy killed at least seven people that we knew of in my area over several years (maybe more out in California) before we caught him in south Florida....
A real low life, living in the baddest section of town and would prowl on foot or bicycle late at night looking to enter occupied houses where everyone was sound asleep... He never carried a weapon at all - until he entered a house..... His means of entry were any window, sliding glass door that he could work himself into. He would then crawl to the kitchen and arm himself with one of the house's kitchen knives - then continue crawling back to the bedrooms with large knife in hand where he was looking for pants with money and car keys in them. If no one woke up he'd usually leave them alone and the only thing the victim would know is that someone took his wallet and car keys while he was sleeping and that his car was also gone. If anyone woke up his first act was to plunge that knife into them then leave the house....

Like I said, a very bad guy. On one or two occasions he found a woman alone. The victim was usually found raped and stabbed to death... When he was finally caught he said he avoided houses with dogs since they'd wake up the folks inside.... He was finally caught when one of our D's noticed a bike he'd stolen from a bloody murder scene leaning up against the side of the house he was living in....

Once again, that's why Sam's response was right on the money. If you've heard something at night, go to a good defensive position, stay dead silent and wait for them to come to you... I'd think I'm right in believing that most times it will turn out to be a family member or something totally innocent so you must not jump the gun. That one in a million very bad encounter will go much better if they don't know you're alert, in a good defensive position and able to defend your family ( and one or two dogs are always your best alarm system in my opinion).

What I've just related happened more than 20 years ago and it's just one of many reasons I'm glad to be retired from police work....

 

[Red October]

+1 for Sam's comments.
Where I live there have been occasions of home invasions with the perps kicking in the door yelling "police". By the time the homeowners realize the lie, it's too late. Of course, if it really is the Police, an armed response is unlikely to be well received.
Staying-put in a defensible position and calling 911 is the best bet.