Law Enforcement having CHL's

[wgoforth]

I am planning on writing the police chiefs of all the nearby communities advertising my classes, and discounts for LEO's. I thought I would also list what benefits a LEO might have in possessing a CHL. Other than making it a little easier to buy a gun, what can you think of?

[Teamless]

If they are off duty, do they need a CHL or does their badge allow them to carry?
what if they are on vacation in other cities or states (that have reciprocity with Texas)
what if they no longer are police officers for whatever reasons

[wgoforth]

If they are off duty, do they need a CHL or does their badge allow them to carry?
what if they are on vacation in other cities or states (that have reciprocity with Texas)
what if they no longer are police officers for whatever reasons

Badge allows to carry off duty, and Federal Law allows carrying to other cities and states (my understanding) under the Officers Safety Law Enforcement Act. I have had police say they can carry with a CHL easier, with lower responsibility. Don't know if accurate or not.

[Keith B]

Many just get their CHL so they can bypass the NICS check if they buy a gun.

Also, I have heard of one getting a CHL so that if their weapon gets 'accidentaly' seen off-duty or undercover, they can just say 'Oh, I am a CHL' and if needed flash their CHL to keep from being identified as a police officer. I think this was someone who did a lot of undercover drug work. He wouldn't show them the name and such, just the top of the card as a cover for having the gun. The story may not be factual though.

[Jumping Frog]

Not sure how this plays out with Texas LEO's, but I've seen the following point made in national gun forums about other states. An LEO can weigh in whether this would apply in Texas.

If an officer is involved in a duty-related shooting, for example, and placed on administratIve duty, they are no longer carrying a gun on the job and lose the authorization to carry off-duty (depending on department) until they are cleared. Having a CHL gives them the option of remaining armed when off duty.

[croc870]

Well just as an FYI, they don't need your class to obtain a CHL. I would market it as additional information and as less than 10 hours.

[gigag04]

I have my CHL for the following reasons:

• Skip NCIS check
  Support the Program
  Had one since I was before LEO
  Never know when something crazy happens and I am suspended/fired through no fault of my own

Not sure a discounted class would really appeal to LEOs as we don't need it to obtain a CHL or renewal:

GC §411.1991. ACTIVE PEACE OFFICERS. (a) A person who is licensed as a peace officer under Chapter 1701, Occupations Code, and is employed full-time as a peace officer by a law enforcement agency may apply for a license under this subchapter. The person shall submit to the department two complete sets of legible and classifiable fingerprints and a sworn statement of the head of the law enforcement agency employing the applicant. A head of a law enforcement agency may not refuse to issue a statement under this subsection. If the applicant alleges that the statement is untrue, the department shall investigate the validity of the statement. The statement must include:
(1) the name and rank of the applicant;
(2) whether the applicant has been accused of misconduct at any time during the applicant's period of employment with the agency and the disposition of that accusation;
(3) a description of the physical and mental condition of the applicant;
(4) a list of the types of weapons the applicant has demonstrated proficiency with during the preceding year; and
(5) a recommendation from the agency head that a license be issued to the person under this subchapter.
(b) The department may issue a license under this subchapter to an applicant under this section if the statement from the head of the law enforcement agency employing the applicant complies with Subsection (a) and indicates that the applicant is qualified and physically and mentally fit to carry a handgun.
(c) An applicant under this section shall pay a fee of $25 for a license issued under this subchapter.
(d) A license issued under this section expires as provided by Section 411.183.

You might be able to offer it for LEO's significant others and family who they have been encouraging to get a CHL. Also - certain non-sworn personnel like Records clerks, Intake personnel, jailers (mostly found in county jails), crime scene techs, and analysts, may be interested in taking advantage of it. Instead of going through the chief, who will be busy, you may get more traction by going through the internal training division of the agency.

[wgoforth]

Well just as an FYI, they don't need your class to obtain a CHL. I would market it as additional information and as less than 10 hours.

Ok...educate me here.... I was unaware that police could get a CHL sans a class? Evidently the LEO's I have worked with didn't know this either.
Edit: Just spoke with a senior LEO and he said as far as he knew, you had to take the class to get a CHL.

[gigag04]

I sent the letter including the info posted above, signed by the chief, and paid $25 online. I sent prints too, but turns out I didn't need them, at least for a renewal. I don't remember where that info was, but I think I got it from Crossfire.

The reasoning is simple - any Texas LEO has had significantly more use of force, deadly force, and penal code training than the class offers. The letter from the chief relays what the LEO is qualified on, as a proficiency certificate if you will.

[wgoforth]

I sent the letter including the info posted above, signed by the chief, and paid $25 online. I sent prints too, but turns out I didn't need them. I don't remember where that info was, but I think I got it from Crossfire.

Be interesting to get the detail on that, I have had LEO's and several I know are going other places to obtain it. Most must not be aware of this.

Edit: Another has responded that a letter from the chief and $25 is all required. Apparently most LEO's don't even know that one!

[gigag04]

I sent the letter including the info posted above, signed by the chief, and paid $25 online. I sent prints too, but turns out I didn't need them. I don't remember where that info was, but I think I got it from Crossfire.

Be interesting to get the detail on that, I have had LEO's and several I know are going other places to obtain it. Most must not be aware of this.

Edit: Another has responded that a letter from the chief and $25 is all required. Apparently most LEO's don't even know that one!

Yeah if they follow the process spelled out in the GC they should be fine. I was the first person in my dept to do it in a while. Since then, a few guys have come to me to get the .doc file of my letter, and fill in their info. They submit it to the training dept, which will verify the info (which weapon systems the ofc is qualified on, and any disciplinary issues) and then submit it to the chief for singing.

The $25 is a nice deal, because we don't really NEED a CHL, but there are a few benefits to having one as an LEO. You could maybe offer to draft the letter and put the packet together free for the LEO with a spouse's enrollment in the class.

[wgoforth]

I sent the letter including the info posted above, signed by the chief, and paid $25 online. I sent prints too, but turns out I didn't need them. I don't remember where that info was, but I think I got it from Crossfire.

Be interesting to get the detail on that, I have had LEO's and several I know are going other places to obtain it. Most must not be aware of this.

Edit: Another has responded that a letter from the chief and $25 is all required. Apparently most LEO's don't even know that one!

Yeah if they follow the process spelled out in the GC they should be fine. I was the first person in my dept to do it in a while. Since then, a few guys have come to me to get the .doc file of my letter, and fill in their info. They submit it to the training dept, which will verify the info (which weapon systems the ofc is qualified on, and any disciplinary issues) and then submit it to the chief for singing.

The $25 is a nice deal, because we don't really NEED a CHL, but there are a few benefits to having one as an LEO. You could maybe offer to draft the letter and put the packet together free for the LEO with a spouse's enrollment in the class.

That does sound like a good idea, thanks for sharing! The reason I put this question out for brainstorming...mine usually fizzle out

[remington79]

In the state where I'm now living and working a lot of people at the SD have their CWPs. One of the reasons is that in order to carry under LEOSA you have to qualify with your off duty weapon. They don't always have time to hold qualifications for off duty and back up weapons since they like to have those at the same time as the regular qualifications are being held. It can be kind of hard to conceal a Glock 21 so to get around that a lot of use have our CWPs so we can carry whatever we want off duty.

[gregthehand]

I have buddies still in LE that have them for the reasons mentioned above. Also because some of them work for departments with very restrictive off duty carry policies. For instance in works for a department that qualifies them with their off duty weapon and once they do that's the only weapon they are allowed to carry. The question was brought up if they carry a pistol they didn't qualify then what? The answer given was that you had to do so with a CHL. Seems hard to enforce but ya never know.

[bkj]

I have had several LEO in my class. I told them they did not need the class. They said they did not want to go through the department. I did not ask them to elaborate.