First LEO contact - disarmed and unloaded

[dwsUSA]

So I was with my family driving home this weekend. I turned onto a stretch of road where I thought the speed limit was 65. On this road the speed limit changes from 65 to 60 in several places. So I'm going 65 and I spot the 60mph speed limit time the same time I see a DPS car. I start to slow down but I get pulled over. My 11 month old son is in the back seat screaming his head off. The state trooper approaches the car and I roll down my window and hand him my DL and CHL. He asked me if I was carrying. I told him I was. He asked me tell me where it is without reaching for it. I inform him that it is in my right front pocket. He takes my info back to his car and in a minute or so returns and asks me to step out of the car. He ask me if I am trying to get home. My kids are in the back seat. My 4 year old is obviously very sleepy and the 11 month old is screaming his head off still. I told I was but that I thought the speed limit was 65 until I saw the sign. He asked me to step to the rear of the car. He then asked me to turn around and place my hands on top of my head and interlock my fingers, which I do. he then grabs my hands with his left hand (not tightly - just enough so that he could react if necessary) and reaches into my pocket with his right hand and removes my kel-tech 380 that is in a pocket holster. He then told me I could turn around and put my hands down. As he removes the magazine I inform him that the pistol is loaded. He unloads it and hands me the magazine and
the round that was loaded and tells me I can return to my car. He sticks my pistol into his waistband and returns to his cruiser. A few minutes later he returns and issues me a warning and returns my pistol. This is the one time I can truly say I was glad my son was screaming in the car. I think he may have saved me from getting a ticket. All in all a very smooth and professional encounter. However, it got me thinking, it sure would be nice if there was a standard procedure LEOs would use when they wanted to disarm us so we all know exactly what to expect. I was a bit surprised that I had to turn around and put my hands on my head - although I can completely understand why he wanted me to do it. Has anyone else ever had to do that??

And for you LEOs out there, my hats to yall for the good work you do.

[CHL/LEO]

I was a bit surprised that I had to turn around and put my hands on my head - although I can completely understand why he wanted me to do it. Has anyone else ever had to do that??

I've never disarmed anyone unless they're going to jail but not having been there I can't comment on this trooper's actions. They work in a whole different world from us. Our cover elements can be there in a matter of minutes if not seconds. Theirs might take 15 to 20 minutes - are longer. Whatever makes them feel safe is what matters.

It's nice that you have a positive attitude about the entire traffic stop. I'm sure the trooper appreciated that.

[Liberty]

I think there was something else going on that you were not aware of. State troopers normally aren't going to pull anyone over for doing 65 in a 6o. And they don't normally disarm CHLs.. Maybe there was a robbery near by involving a simular auto.

[nitrogen]

I hope this doesn't come off as "cop bashing" because it really isnt.

But when an officer decides to take action to disarm a CHL, I think we should start asking them why. Of course, not as they are doing it, but afterwards, toward the end of the stop.

"Officer, if you don't mind, I'm curious: why did you disarm me?"
"For my safety"
"What about this incident made you think there was a reasonable risk to your safety?"
Now if he says, like the previous poster, "MY back up is 20 minutes away" I think that's fine. I feel it's just as reasonable to ask why you're being disarmed as it is to ask why you were stopped in the first place.

Of course demeanor here is key. Politeness and courtsey is the order of the day here. I'd expect a profanity laden question to be met poorly.

What do you folks think?

[flintknapper]

I was a bit surprised that I had to turn around and put my hands on my head - although I can completely understand why he wanted me to do it. Has anyone else ever had to do that??

I've never disarmed anyone unless they're going to jail but not having been there I can't comment on this trooper's actions. They work in a whole different world from us. Our cover elements can be there in a matter of minutes if not seconds. Theirs might take 15 to 20 minutes - are longer. Whatever makes them feel safe is what matters.

It's nice that you have a positive attitude about the entire traffic stop. I'm sure the trooper appreciated that.

No Sir!

"Whatever makes them feel safe" IS NOT the standard. The law is very clear about this subject.

[jimlongley]

"For my safety"
"What about this incident made you think there was a reasonable risk to your safety?"
Now if he says, like the previous poster, "MY back up is 20 minutes away" I think that's fine. I feel it's just as reasonable to ask why you're being disarmed as it is to ask why you were stopped in the first place.

Of course demeanor here is key. Politeness and courtsey is the order of the day here. I'd expect a profanity laden question to be met poorly.

What do you folks think?

I don't think "For my safety" is a valid reason for a LEO to disarm a CHL holder - it says to me that the LEO doesn't trust the CHL holder not to go off his nut for the stop.

As a matter of fact, I'm not sure if I can envision any scenario where a simple traffic stop should result in a LEO disarming a CHL holder. Maybe if there were warrants or a current crisis situation, but it also seems to me that the LEO could as easily explain him/herself. Lacking any explanation I am afraid I might view it as harassment.

[Charles L. Cotton]

Was there another Trooper in the DPS car? I was disarmed once by a DPS Trooper and I'm convinced he was in training and his field training officer told him to go back and disarm me. It seems to be very rare for DPS to disarm CHLs.

Chas.

[DoubleJ]

maybe the trainee did it to you, Charles, because it would be good practice at properly disarming someone, and the trainer knew that you, a fine, upstanding, CHL holder wasn't going to put up a physical fight, or likely to try and shoot either officer.




just a theory.

[CompVest]

I don't like the idea of being disarmed but I really think the way this officer did so especially with the family in the car was a bit over the top!

[Glock 23]

Just cause he's a texas trooper, doesnt mean he doesnt believe that no one but LEO should ever carry a gun.
By law he cant stop you, but he probably would have if he could.

But like others have said before, I dont think its the norm.

[dwsUSA]

The DPS officer was by himself. I almost asked him why he disarmed me the way he did but since he was nice enough to just give me a warning I didn't want to push my luck.

After getting back into the car I told me wife that I was glad no one we knew drove by while I was getting disarmed.

[drw]

After getting back into the car I told me wife that I was glad no one we knew drove by while I was getting disarmed.

You can't know that this isn't the case, actually...

[dustyb]

I think there was something else going on that you were not aware of. State troopers normally aren't going to pull anyone over for doing 65 in a 6o. And they don't normally disarm CHLs.. Maybe there was a robbery near by involving a simular auto.

I have been stopped twice in the last five years. Neither time did the troopers seem at all alarmed about my CHL. Both were very cool and calm. One warning, one ticket.

[dwsUSA]

After getting back into the car I told me wife that I was glad no one we knew drove by while I was getting disarmed.

You can't know that this isn't the case, actually...

Fortunately this was a pretty secluded part of the road and no cars passed us going either direction while this was happening.

[lws380]

Call his supervisor and ask if that is the procedure and if so what is the reasoning behind it. From most of the post I've read over the years, it is not the norm to disarm CHL's. if it not the procedure, maybe he needs a little training.

If he felt in danger or for his safety, why leave you in the car with the weapon? Maybe he just doesn't like screaming kids!