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cb1000rider wrote:

mojo84 wrote: I would like to see you cite your source for departments that "require" cops to carry off duty when they are drinking and or inebreated.

That's probably going to be a pretty tough cite. Why not ask for a cite on departments that require LEOs to carry when off duty? I think that's the much more likely policy.

EEllis wrote:

jmra wrote: It was my intention to speak in general terms not all inclusive terms. In rereading my statements perhaps I could have been more specific but I believe my intentions were clear in my responses that I was speaking to my encounters with LEO and their depts. It may not have been how you interpreted it but it is what I stated. In fact I stated several times that I was basing my statements on discussions I've had with LEO. So unless you think I'm claiming to have spoken with members of every dept in Texas (which I'm not) then I couldn't possibly be referring to every police dept.
I did do some checking of my own - just spoke with a long term veteran officer who has worked with several depts in the area over the years. He has never been required to carry off duty. He said he was aware of some depts that required it if you had a take home car but that was not the case with any of the depts in this area.
He suggested it was more common in depts with higher populations due to man power shortages. Regardless, he confirmed that it is not a requirement in this area and has not been for the years he has been on the force.

We don't need to beat it to death. I just figured you were making your statements based on to small a sample. The issue I had was that you were using that statement or belief as an argument in a larger discussion as a fact. I have no issue that you don't know any cops that are required to carry.

EEllis wrote:

jmra wrote:

EEllis wrote:

jmra wrote:Ever seen an inebriated off duty cop? They are not required to carry off duty.

Hate to break it to you but some dept do require their officers to carry off duty. The phrasing usually, but not always, gives some out like "When "off duty", each member will carry or have in his/her immediate possession, his/her badge, department sidearm, or a pistol or revolver, as authorized by the Department, and the identification card. This rule shall not apply when members are engaged in sports and activities of such a nature as to make it impractical or when imbibing alcoholic beverages

Not sure why you "Hate to break to (me)" when you have actually proven my point. Unless you simply want to argue semantics, the policy you quoted is what I was saying. Not to mention the fact that the quoted policy probably hasn't been enforced in most departments in over twenty years.
I'll never forget the look on a local detectives face when I explained to him that it was legal for a CHL to carry in Church and that most of the non-LEOs having coffee with him before Church were armed. He simply couldn't understand why anyone would feel the need to carry in Church. He then polled the LEOs sitting at the table and 3 of the 4 were unarmed. I'll have to ask about their "policy" but I'm sure it's been long ignored.
Not to mention the fact that almost all the younger officers I know, when off duty are either engaged in one of the activities you mentioned or they are home asleep. I can most definitely assure you that if these officers are at any professional sporting event, they are consuming alcohol and are unarmed.
Simply put, if an officer doesn't want to carry off duty there is plenty of room in the policy stated above (even with departments that might enforce it) for the officer to go unarmed pretty much anytime he wants. So, no - in practical everyday application, they are not "required" to carry off duty.

I don't know why it gets you so worked up but you are incorrect. There are dept where if you are found without your gun you get days off. Some say on you some say available but if you bump into your LT and don't have a gun then yes you will get days off. Some depts expect and require cops to be armed when drinking. That the ones you know don't belong to such depts really doesn't mean that much.

Some depts expect and require cops to be armed when drinking.

Ameer wrote:They're off duty so it's basically the same logic as prohibiting CHL from carrying at professional sporting events.