First LEO encounter – Young County

[retredleg]

My wife & I were on our way to Wildcatter Ranch Resort (just outside Graham in Young County) for the weekend on Saturday, 10/17/09 when I was pulled over by a Deputy Sheriff on Hwy 16 around 9pm. I was cruising between 65-70mph (speed limit was 65 at night) so I was a little surprised when I saw the flashing lights in my rearview mirror. I immediately pull over, 4 way flashers on, windows down, dome lights on, and killed the engine. I pull out my DL & CHL and have my hands where the officer can clearly see them. I was carrying my pistol on me and had another in a backpack. We both had open containers in the center console of non-alcoholic beers (mine a Coors Cutter & hers an O’Dule’s) but we weren’t concern about them any due to their contents.

So the nice officer comes up to the truck window and kindly states his name and that he’s stopping me for doing 75 in a 65. I act surprised, but non-argumentative and hand him my cards. He looks at my CHL with the new design and states that it’s the first time he’s seen one of the new ones. He asks me where we’re heading and I told him. Then he says, “I see you have an open container in the vehicle. Have you been drinking tonight”? I tell him, yes sir, but they’re both non-alcoholic and I show him my bottle. We laugh about it and then he asks me if I’m carrying my gun on me tonight and I say yes sir I am. He then says ok wait just a minute and he walks to the rear of the truck where he and another deputy, who unbeknownst to me has been carefully observing from the right rear of the passenger side, confer. They return, each on their respective side, and he says, “Sir, can you please show my partner that bottle. He’s never seen that brand before”. So I do and he says ok, and we all have another laugh about it. The first officer then says, “How ‘bout slowing down a little bit through here, there’s a lot of deer out these ways at night”. I say yes sir, shake his hand and he leaves. What a great experience. My wife was in shock how well it all went. She asked me why I thought it went so well and I considered several things.

1. I am retired Army and have Army, NRA, and POW/MIA stickers on my rear window. I also hang my retired dog tags from my rearview mirror. Perhaps he saw these items and was a Pro-military guy.
2. I also posed no threat to him as he approached the vehicle by making it easy for him to see me. Plus, I had my DL & CHL ready for him. (He never asked for my proof of insurance or ran my DL#).
3. I put up no argument about being stopped – even though I am quite sure I was not doing 75mph! Never pays to argue with LEO’s.

Regardless the reason why he was so nice to me I am just glad he was. I really appreciate the tough job these guys have and value what they mean to our safety. Chock this up to some great Deputy Sheriffs in Young County. May God bless & protect them.

[frazzled]

Dome light-didn't think of that.

To any LEO's-is that a good idea? It would seem so, but good to ask.

[Keith B]

Dome light-didn't think of that.

To any LEO's-is that a good idea? It would seem so, but good to ask.

Ex-LEO and yes, definitely. Window down, dome light on, both hands on the top of the wheel and papers in hand if you can get them easily before the LEO approaches and doesn't look like you are fumbling around or hiding things.

[joe817]

Good post retredleg. Thanks for sharing!

[Excaliber]

Dome light-didn't think of that.

To any LEO's-is that a good idea? It would seem so, but good to ask.

Ex-LEO and yes, definitely. Window down, dome light on, both hands on the top of the wheel and papers in hand if you can get them easily before the LEO approaches and doesn't look like you are fumbling around or hiding things.

I suggest keys out of the ignition and on the dashboard behind the steering wheel. This pretty much eliminates an officer's concern that the driver might do something sudden and threatening with the vehicle.

I also recommend not reaching for a wallet or anything else during the stop. From the officer's vehicle he can see you're reaching for or trying to hide something, but he won't be able to see what it is. I suggest leaving both hands fully visible at the top of the steering wheel. When the officer comes up to the open window and asks for ID, my response is to advise him that, out of respect for his safety, I want him to know that I'm lawfully armed and where the gun is. I also tell him where my ID is and ask him how he'd like me to proceed. That way he has full information and control of the situation, and my subsequent movements are only those we've agreed on beforehand so there are no surprises on either side. I've never gotten anything but perfect courtesy in return.

The more comfortable you can make him, the more likely it is that things will go smoothly for you.

[CompVest]

The ignition key thing isn't such a good idea for women. I believe in light of BGs impersonating LEOs that having a ready get away is prudent.

[jbirds1210]

The ignition key thing isn't such a good idea for women. I believe in light of BGs impersonating LEOs that having a ready get away is prudent.

I agree.

If for some reason the LEO wants you to turn off the car, I am sure they will request it. Hopefully this isn't in the form of a felony stop

[stash]

retredleg - I am just curious, nothing more - are retired dog tags different then active ones?

Glad your stop went well.

[Excaliber]

The ignition key thing isn't such a good idea for women. I believe in light of BGs impersonating LEOs that having a ready get away is prudent.

I agree.

If for some reason the LEO wants you to turn off the car, I am sure they will request it. Hopefully this isn't in the form of a felony stop

If you allow an armed LEO impersonator to walk up to your car and stand at your open window, I would suggest that you're unlikely to have an opportunity to successfully extricate yourself from that by putting the car in gear and driving away. At that point, if he wants you, he's got you if he's willing to use deadly force.

If you have concerns about the legitimacy of the vehicle / person initiating the stop, you might instead consider calling 911 and continuing to drive to the nearest police or fire station, or at least a well lighted and occupied commercial area until you can verify with the dispatcher that the stop is by an LEO.

I made the suggestion to turn off the engine and put the keys on the dash because I know from long experience how that diminishes an officer's concerns about danger from the stop. Like any of my suggestions, it's something everyone needs to evaluate in terms of his or her own situation and concerns, and act accordingly.

[Purplehood]

retredleg - I am just curious, nothing more - are retired dog tags different then active ones?

Glad your stop went well.

I never heard of retired dog tags. Doesn't mean they don't exist, just that I have never heard of them.

[retredleg]

retredleg - I am just curious, nothing more - are retired dog tags different then active ones?

Glad your stop went well.

I never heard of retired dog tags. Doesn't mean they don't exist, just that I have never heard of them.

Very funny... and good point. After I wrote that I figured how dorky it sounded. Oh well, to me I suppose everything I had from those days retired with me.

BTW, "just curious" did yours retire when you did? Or did they stay active? See "my" point?

[Purplehood]

No. I don't understand the question.

[retredleg]

No. I don't understand the question.

I know.

[srothstein]

By retired dog tags, he meant the tags were retired from their duty as a military identification device, not that they served to identify him as a retired soldier.

[mkosmo]

I suggest keys out of the ignition and on the dashboard behind the steering wheel. This pretty much eliminates an officer's concern that the driver might do something sudden and threatening with the vehicle.

Every LEO I've talked to has suggested against this, particularly on busy streets. Their rationale was: The last thing they need is for your car to not start after the stop, especially if you're blocking traffic. I've heard people suggest putting keys on the dash or on top of the vehicle and pitched that thought too, which was shot down as well: If a truck drives by, it could potentially dislodge your keys making them either hard to find, a hazard, or in the middle of traffic.

I personally think that LEO would find a welcoming and non-threatening posture and expression from the offender to be more settling than than the gesture of disabling your vehicle.