As a Security Guard my uniform has a silver badge. Cops try to give me a hassle about it here and there but in this instance I can just tell them to take it up with my employer. Until my employer makes a change they’re going to have to deal with there being X number of Security personnel in the area with badges.
I mention this because I’m in a uniform clearly marked Security and they still hassle me (certain ones, that’s another story though). A CCW badge looks exactly the same as my security badge, only gold. You will find yourself in hot water.
(State Police are the ones who hassle me, not locals. They rotate in and out every other year so the new ones always try to act like big badasses.)
Many years ago I worked security. We had a very good relationship with the PD and SO. A lot of that was because we did a lot of contract work for them. Guarding Inmates in the hospital, night watch at schools, and the always dead boring. . . body watch (When someone was killed and the body was found at night. We secured the scene until the next day, or was long as they needed us to. It happened more often than one would expect).
We were really pushed to go beyond the guard card certification and get our reserve deputy training. I would recommend the reserve training to anyone, it was informative, fun, and it ultimately led to a better job.
On thing both the PD and SO would do is see if they could sneak their car in behind us and then hit the siren. . . always good for a laugh. They particularly picked on snoozers. They tried me a lot because I was a reader, as such they couldn’t tell if I was reading or sleeping. Eventually they gave up on me though; however, they continued it with some others. It was all in fun and they never reported anyone for sleeping unless it was truly excessive. As I can think you can see, we had a very good relationship.
I have a good working relationship with 3 different PD’s (City, and County namely). I even hit the range with a few officers. It’s State police where I end up with issues. They want to be assigned to the southern part of the state, not where I live. They are resentful of being assigned to the boonies so they act like d***s.
Usually they simmer down towards the end of their 2 year stint in the area. Very few decide to stay. I’ve been very careful to avoid stating exactly where I work, I have my reasons. Suffice to say we’re not encouraged to seek reserve training or to help officers outside of work. Not that my boss would mind, he would just be concerned with conflicting interests.
Here’s a scenario. Police show up on scene and see you with a holstered gun after a ‘shots fired’ call. You hold up your ID high above your head; a sign police recognize to mean, “check my id first. I’m not a threat.” It’s what an off duty cop would do when the uniforms arrive. I don’t think a badge would be out of order because a) your not misrepresenting anything, and b) they’re not going to shoot from a distance while you’re holding a badge of any kind. So it lessens the chance of getting misidentified by the police.
If a person just wants something identifiable, but not identifiable as police, A though that occurred was a simple ID holder next to the pistol on the belt.
For most that would even consider a CCW badge, such as the friend of mine that I mentioned, the main purpose is to prevent “Nervous Nellie” calls to the police. Something placing the CCW permit, next to the pistol, on the belt is probably going to achieve that without irritating, or emulating, law enforcement.
Examples:
. . .
I think you get the idea, It seems that for those who just feel a need to have something on their belt, next to their pistol, these would be a much better option.
@Hasaf Now this I can see being a much better idea over a badge. If I am carrying concealed of course I would not want to wear something that singles me out as a carrier to a bad guy, but for something like hiking in a state where open carry is legal it could prevent those “Nervous Nelly” calls as mentioned.
@Daniel_E I think ID makes sense to do that with, and I think the holding it up could be a very smart tactic. I still wouldn’t have a badge. I’ve seen what it looks like, up close and personal, when a prosecutor decides to make an example of you. I am never giving them anything they can turn against me. Ever.
If the scene is completely secure and you can reholster your firearm, having your ID available is a great idea. However, if you are not able to reholster, you can always have someone else call 911 and describe the situation and what you’re wearing so the police have a better idea of what they’re walking into.
Any sort of badge will be used against you by a DA saying you’re either trying to impersonate a police office or want to be a police officer. I would suggest NOT carrying any sort of badge.
These are the uniform badges I have for work. One is for my day to day uniforms, it’s pinned to my shirt. The other is for when I work event security. I’ve been hassled over both. You will get hassled for a CCW “badge”.
This has always been my intended POA. Just like presenting the credential at a traffic stop, you are establishing a positive relationship early on. Of course, all moves are dictated by operational necessity. Situational awareness is going to guide the best recommendation of the moment.
If you’ve done your due diligence you’ve already got your cell phone online with 911 and at least set it down nearby to serve as a speakerphone. Depending on the level of combat you can relay who you are, how you’re dressed, and if you’re armed, if actively engaged, and the situation as you see it - Don’t forget, if you have information about safe lanes of access or lines of fire this can help inform incoming responders.
Of course, if all you can do is open the phone connection and toss the handset down the 911 operator will at least hear an active shooter/gunfight in progress.
