LOL, yeah, I'm sure you're really pro LEO ...about as much as GunnerDan.
LOL, yeah, I'm sure you're really pro LEO ...about as much as GunnerDan.
I knew it! Darth actaeon!
How did this turn into an illegal search? From the OP, the officer placed the gun on or under the seat and decided to put the magazine in the glove box. If he were rummaging through the glove box, I understand the concern. The Hammond area is not a great area and I agree with Roll Tide. Some things were not handled in a great way but the officer was professional, the OP was let off for a lesser charge. He could have made the 14 and over stick and didn't. What I don't understand is why the OP left out the most important details in the original thread. The emptying of the gun and all was stated later.
Nope, I think it's just pretty pathetic that people jump imediately to the "file a formal complaint" BS right from the get go. It's just a generational thing these days....people like to whine a lot
Tagging for updates.
FWIW, I would lean towards the complaint line of action. *Knocking on wood*, I haven't gotten a ticket in a number of years and though I've read these threads a number of times since joining, I don't know that I would have done things any differently than you, Mark. I totally agree that it defies common sense safety to be manipulating a stranger's firearm along the side of the road for no legitimate reason and the unwarranted snatching and unloading should stop.
Just for the sake of conversation: In view of how the situation went down, other than the gun-thing, the professionalism of the officer, maybe, rather than jumping straight to formal complaint, you start of with a meeting with the officer's superior and discuss the issue while complementing him on the parts he did correctly?
Tagging for updates.
*Knocking on wood*, I haven't gotten a ticket in a number of years...
I do a lot of work and I get complained on from time to time. That's the life of a police officer. If I'm in the wrong then I deserve to get complained on. If this incident happened exactly as the OP stated, then a formal complaint is warranted, he was the victim of a 4th amendment search and seizure violation. As I said earlier, the complaint should be worded so as to advocate that it is directed toward the department's policy, not just the singular action of the singular officer, though the officer is ultimately responsible for his own actions, department policy or not.
I am considering requesting a meeting with the chief and the officer. Just not sure why that would motivate anyone or if they would even bother with me, but it sounds worth a try.
Yep. Counting coop on the bad karma makes me nervous also.
LOL, yeah, I'm sure you're really pro LEO ...about as much as GunnerDan.
Answer?
Whosh!
That one went right over my head.