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I'm thinking that if I think that I need to stop somewhere, gas, smokes, food etc... I will not leave home or work wearing the uniform shirt and instead be CC'ing. That is if I ever get my PLASTIC! I aint gonna be the guinney pig.

papajohn1964 wrote:I'm thinking that if I think that I need to stop somewhere, gas, smokes, food etc... I will not leave home or work wearing the uniform shirt and instead be CC'ing. That is if I ever get my PLASTIC! I aint gonna be the guinney pig.

That's certainly the safest course of action for now until the legislators and LE agencies get this all sorted out so citizens can understand it.

Another option is stopping for gas in a different jurisdiction.

I spoke with an investigator that works for DPS, and he said ANY reasonable stop going to, coming from or during the commission of your duties is perfectly legal. I too am a commissioned security officer and I happen to live in Ft. Worth. I spoke with several officers about this very issue and most are of the same mind. One uniform, one team. They don't want to see us unnecessarily disarmed and put at risk any more than they want to be. There are a few bad apples everywhere but we can't let them poison our minds or opinions on the rest. And Vice-Versa. I go to Wal-Mart all the time after work to pick up items that I need for the house and I always stop to talk to the off duty officer working that night. Never had any problems. I used to take my lunch break and go shopping at the Wal-Mart next to my house without any problems. Don't sweat it, but if you find yourself in that position again, all you can do is explain the law. I would call the DPS PSB and ask to speak to an investigator so you can hear it from yourself. Get his/her name and write it down. That way you have proof that this was approved by the proper authorities.

...this man wasn't baggin' a donut on the way to work...he was AT work...in uniform...in a marked patrol vehicle...on duty...buying gas so he could continue working...the cop was outa line...a roving patrol security HAS to travel between posts/properties...and he has to take bathroom breaks...and drink coffee...and eat...that was true in the 70s and it's true now...the guard wasn't stickin' his nose in where it didn't belong...the cop was...the law covering to and from work doesn't apply here...the man was clearly "in the performance of his duties"...I'd be bending the Chief's ear about this one...it's not the citizens, but the offending officer, who doesn't understand it...

k6gixx wrote:I spoke with an investigator that works for DPS, and he said ANY reasonable stop going to, coming from or during the commission of your duties is perfectly legal. I too am a commissioned security officer and I happen to live in Ft. Worth. I spoke with several officers about this very issue and most are of the same mind. One uniform, one team. They don't want to see us unnecessarily disarmed and put at risk any more than they want to be. There are a few bad apples everywhere but we can't let them poison our minds or opinions on the rest. And Vice-Versa. I go to Wal-Mart all the time after work to pick up items that I need for the house and I always stop to talk to the off duty officer working that night. Never had any problems. I used to take my lunch break and go shopping at the Wal-Mart next to my house without any problems. Don't sweat it, but if you find yourself in that position again, all you can do is explain the law. I would call the DPS PSB and ask to speak to an investigator so you can hear it from yourself. Get his/her name and write it down. That way you have proof that this was approved by the proper authorities.

...the "one team" needs some work on both sides, sadly enough...always has...in the 70s, we had the same attitude problems...and some great guards...one was a friend like no other...would be there for us in a flash if backup was far off...but then there was the one who looked familiar to a graveyard shift officer...who had called them to secure a business found unlocked...the guard had 3 large rings of keys...was armed...the officer kept being bugged...went home and looked up the guard's name in his old records...and found that he had arrested him in another city 5 years prior for--------business burglary...screening has gotten a bit better...some security folks are police wannabees...some are highly trained professionals...who have to live down the first ones' reputation...

...Wackenhut..in 96...taught us not to go shopping in uniform...to drive straight to work and home, if in uniform,and surely if armed in uniform...worried about the liability to the Corp. if something happened as much as the restrictions in the law...imagine the nightmare if you walked into the donut shoppe uniformed and armed while a robbery was going down...why, you might be accused of being a wannabe Batman...

...Wackenhut..in 96...taught us not to go shopping in uniform...to drive straight to work and home, if in uniform,and surely if armed in uniform...worried about the liability to the Corp. if something happened as much as the restrictions in the law...imagine the nightmare if you walked into the donut shoppe uniformed and armed while a robbery was going down...why, you might be accused of being a wannabe Batman...

I've learned that a lot of local companies have lines in their employee handbook like "irrespective of State law, company policy is that you will NOT be armed while travelling to and from work".

WOW!!! I'm glad I work for a company that says we will arrive to the office ready to roll out of our car with no notice to take care of a situation. No gun=Buttchewin

..that's the way it oughta be...a uniform without a gun is nothing but a target...unarmed security is not only dangerous, it's stupid...

speedsix wrote:..that's the way it oughta be...a uniform without a gun is nothing but a target...unarmed security is not only dangerous, it's stupid...

Gotta agree, especially since Texas law basically allows nothing for noncommissioned officers. Might get away with carrying a baton, but even that is doubtful. OC requires certification, and a commission.

Pity. I've defused many situations merely by pulling the OC from my belt and extending my arm in a "ready to spray" pose. Funny how fast people will back down in the face of sure and certain pain to come. Ask anyone who has experienced both OC and a Taser which they'd rather be hit with again LOL!

packina45 wrote:

speedsix wrote:..that's the way it oughta be...a uniform without a gun is nothing but a target...unarmed security is not only dangerous, it's stupid...

Gotta agree, especially since Texas law basically allows nothing for noncommissioned officers. Might get away with carrying a baton, but even that is doubtful. OC requires certification, and a commission.

Pity. I've defused many situations merely by pulling the OC from my belt and extending my arm in a "ready to spray" pose. Funny how fast people will back down in the face of sure and certain pain to come. Ask anyone who has experienced both OC and a Taser which they'd rather be hit with again LOL!

My vote is neither. But if I had to choose, not sure whether I prefer tasting my fillings and jerking and convulsing uncontrollably on the concrete, or the extreme burring of the eyes and skin and a major drainage of my sinuses.

Letter of law and spirit of law should play a role here. IMO once you verified that he's commissioned move along.

I run traffic in problem areas (high crime) because of the greater likelihood of encountering criminals...

...one of the old Burns Intl. (later Wells Fargo) guards when I was on the force was a better backup than most of my police officers...did what you told him to , stayed where you put him...saved several officers' bacon through the years...fine man, he was...no police experience, just a lotta gusto and common sense...

speedsix wrote:...one of the old Burns Intl. (later Wells Fargo) guards when I was on the force was a better backup than most of my police officers...did what you told him to , stayed where you put him...saved several officers' bacon through the years...fine man, he was...no police experience, just a lotta gusto and common sense...

Better than the average.

Most Armored Car guards seem to be at a higher training level than most armed security are.

I've worked Armored cars as well and I can say this. You definitely get a different reaction from both people and for the most part LEO's. That doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me. It's the same job, requires the same training and licences, but they seem to have two different connotations.