You'll shoot your eye out
Master
- Jan 21, 2011
- 1,781
- 48
On Friday morning at 12:25 AM, I was approaching Post road on Washington St. I saw an officer "Light up" a guy ahead just before Post Rd. The only thing I saw was the red/blues come on in the distance, so I have no idea what the traffic stop was for.
When I got there I had already went to the farthest lane, like we are supposed to. Approaching and passing the traffic stop, I see the officer standing behind the drivers side window and leaning way forward to address the driver. His gun is in his hand well behind him concealed just under his butt pressed tight to the back of his thigh. This officer was ready to go..... Right then. The driver could never have saw what I was seeing and could have no idea that this officer had drawn his pistol and presumably was quite prepared to kill him.
Coming back the other way several minutes later there was nothing there to see, Illustrating that the traffic stop had concluded without incident. The question occurred to me, Is this SOP? If that were me being stopped maybe randomly maybe not, would a weapon be drawn against me without my even knowing it also? Or does an officer judge on a case by case basis who he draws down on? Maybe a hippie? a Negro? Spanish? The smell of dope? A nice car? A raggedy car? An aggressive response from the driver? Only at night? Any other reason that escapes me at the moment?
From what I saw the officer had certainly drew his weapon before taking his position to speak to the driver. He was plainly making an effort to keep this action undisclosed. I am wondering if every traffic stop is handled like this nowadays or was this particular officer afraid for some reason that was not obvious to me? What is police dept. policy on drawing your firearm if any? How often does the average officer draw his weapon like this?
I understand that I have zero knowledge on the dynamics of this particular stop. The only thing that I DO know is that It looked a bit ugly and it raised several questions that probably are better left unasked by the citizenry if the good will between the police and the policed is to be maintained. Specifically this; If I KNEW that when an officer stopped me in traffic that it would be just like the stop that I just saw, Then I would not stop.
When I got there I had already went to the farthest lane, like we are supposed to. Approaching and passing the traffic stop, I see the officer standing behind the drivers side window and leaning way forward to address the driver. His gun is in his hand well behind him concealed just under his butt pressed tight to the back of his thigh. This officer was ready to go..... Right then. The driver could never have saw what I was seeing and could have no idea that this officer had drawn his pistol and presumably was quite prepared to kill him.
Coming back the other way several minutes later there was nothing there to see, Illustrating that the traffic stop had concluded without incident. The question occurred to me, Is this SOP? If that were me being stopped maybe randomly maybe not, would a weapon be drawn against me without my even knowing it also? Or does an officer judge on a case by case basis who he draws down on? Maybe a hippie? a Negro? Spanish? The smell of dope? A nice car? A raggedy car? An aggressive response from the driver? Only at night? Any other reason that escapes me at the moment?
From what I saw the officer had certainly drew his weapon before taking his position to speak to the driver. He was plainly making an effort to keep this action undisclosed. I am wondering if every traffic stop is handled like this nowadays or was this particular officer afraid for some reason that was not obvious to me? What is police dept. policy on drawing your firearm if any? How often does the average officer draw his weapon like this?
I understand that I have zero knowledge on the dynamics of this particular stop. The only thing that I DO know is that It looked a bit ugly and it raised several questions that probably are better left unasked by the citizenry if the good will between the police and the policed is to be maintained. Specifically this; If I KNEW that when an officer stopped me in traffic that it would be just like the stop that I just saw, Then I would not stop.