GO’s come from the department head whether its Chief of Sheriff etc.
There may be some input from local politicians in forming those policies and but the responsibility for implementing and enforcing them is an all blue issue
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I would not say a whole lot of them abuse their discretion, @WildRose.
The police have a very difficult job especially in this day and age. As a responsibly armed American, it is our responsibility to cooperate and work with them as the law-abiding citizens we are - which is something we teach and every single one of our USCCA classes.
Having an attitude that the police abuse their discretion will not assist anyone in their interactions with a police officer. That attitude will actually make it harder to interact with a police officer in a respectful manner.
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Our personal experience in interaction with LEO has been VERY mixed. In MO, mostly neutral and good. In CA, it used to be good, my hubby used to train a lot of departments in Los angels area.
And then there’s the series of interactions that involved rights violations, lying, police and prosecutorial misconduct, vindictive action by LEO, permanent physical and psychological damage, the loss of a lot of money, firearms, wages, and time, and could have ended, as initially charged, with life in prison.
I seriously lost my sense of humor over that one.
I am VERY wary of misconduct, bad attitudes, cowboy behavior, and wrongheaded leadership values. In where we were in So Cal I’m going so far as to say it wasn’t just rampant, it was policy.
Its WHY we live in Missouri now. Here, it’s not perfect, but I’m not worried that I’m going to jail. My husband works with the local sheriff’s departments on staying up on changes in laws. They are understaffed, underpaid, but generally trying to do the right thing, some individuals aside.
Still wary, but open to them showing me who they, individually, are.
Edited to add: the days when LEO gets a uniform expectation of good intent and good conduct for me ended in CA. That said, every interaction is an opportunity for that individual to show me their character. I will take them individually as they prove to be.
In every interaction that person represents the profession as a whole… and they add to my total picture of what-may-be-true.
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Most of them don’t. It’s the 5-15% who do that give the entire profession a bad name. We have about 2.5m sworn officers in the US, that 5-15% adds up to a very large number.
I’m as pro cop as a guy can be but I have zero use for a bad cop, corrupt prosecutor, or worse, corrupt judges.
Somehow in spite of myself I’ve managed to keep a great relationship with the LEO’s I’ve known, trained or otherwise had contact with in three states but I give zero slack to the bad cops and let them know what I think of them.
Of course, you’ll never win an argument with cop on the street or on the highway. Be as cooperative as you can, document bad behavior and deal with it at the station or in court later.
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I had a very bad interation with a corrupt cop, prosecutor, and judge over a ticket about 20 years ago. Using the officer’s own video I proved I wasn’t guilty of the violation he cited me for beyond not just a reasonable doubt, beyond all doubt.
Here’s the kicker. I requested a trial immediately and asked the judge to issue an order securing the original video so it could not be altered or lost.
When I get to the CH, over a hundred miles from home mind you, the prosecutor pulls me aside urging me to plead it out and in exchange it wouldn’t go on my record. I’d have to agree to 20 hours of DD class pay a $350.00 “Diversion Fee”, pay another 150.00 for “court costs” and the whole thing would just go away.
The fine was $175.00 and my record had been spotless for over thirty years so the points were no big deal even if I lost and so I told him, “But sir, we all know I’m innocent”.
He tells me, Mr. Rose, I’ve never lost one of these cases in JP court. You can probably get it tossed on appeal in District court and if you can’t, there’s no way a jury is going to convict but the whole thing is going to cost you a 1,500.00 cash appeal bond due before you leave the CH, and probably a minimum of $1,500-3,000.00 for an attorney so you really should take the diversion.
I looked at him like I’d just been struck with lightning and probably like someone had just slapped me with a frozen 50lbs Salmon.
Sure enough we went in, I put on my case, proved conclusively I hadn’t committed the offense.
Judge takes maybe 10 minutes, comes back and says I’m guilty and asked me what I’d like to do offering to let me post an appeal bond immediately.
I said I’d just pay the fine and go on.
She adjourned the court looking very smug along with the cop and DA.
I asked her ma’m, are we done, she said, “Yes”, I said, may I speak freely then?".
She said we could talk in her office and we all went in and I just ripped on all three of them and told them that cases like this are why people don’t trust cops, prosecutors, or the system at all any more and it’s well earned.
I walked out disgusted as hell and really lost my respect for the entire system that day. Took me 5-10 years to get over being mad about it.
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First I would present proper documents to prove my identity and then the reason for myself getting pulled over. If the police want to search the vehicle then I would be honest and tell them what is in the vehicle to protect everyone involved, I would tell them everything.
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@Amanda1, being polite and responsive to an officer’s request is extremely helpful, I think. 
Depending on what state you’re in, there may be additional obligations placed on you. In Missouri where I live the law does not require you to inform on initial contact. We’re a constitutional carry state, so you don’t have to have a permit, and you don’t need to say unless explicitly asked. However in Michigan where I work the law says you must inform immediately, and someone was convicted of failure to inform because they waited a whole 40 seconds (!!!) before informing!
Have you taken a look at the laws where you live or travel? here’s a good resource where you can check your state laws:
https://www.usconcealedcarry.com/resources/ccw_reciprocity_map/
Zee do you know if @Dawn was ever able to track down a citation for that case? I know she was trying.
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@WildRose I know it’s on the MI supplemental teacher’s info, but I don’t think we got a source for it yet.
It’s also an example given in the instructor’s course but for all of my searching I can’t find it.
I’m hoping @Dawn is having some better luck.
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I’m in the state of Missouri and under Missouri law, one is not obligated to inform an LEO that they are armed. HOWEVER, I strongly encourage my students to keep their hands at 10 and 2 while informing the LEO that you are armed and whether it’s on your person or somewhere else. It brings a little peace to the LEO knowing that straight out of the gate and typically things go smoother. I have yet to have a bad encounter with any LEO I’ve interacted with with my being armed is brought up at the start of our encounter. I’ve actually had LEO’s thank me for carrying. In short, I highly recommend it being disclosed to the LEO whether it’s law or not. Stay safe and watch your six.
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@Dawn, can you clarify what the “official position” of the USCCA is on informing LEO if you get pulled over. I would ALWAYS inform, however, in the July issue of CCM, Kat Ainsworth seems to be saying that you should NOT inform unless required by state law (page 107, heading “Duty to Inform”), or asked to step out of your vehicle. I am assuming this is just her particular opinion on the matter.
Don’t hand over your concealed carry license with your driver’s license. The overwhelming majority of the time, it will never be an issue.
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Here’s a great resource for you, @Fish
https://www.usconcealedcarry.com/blog/5-things-to-do-when-the-police-pull-you-over/
From that article:
If you live in a state that requires you to inform a police officer that you have a concealed carry permit, now is the time to do so. Calmly tell the officer that you have a concealed carry permit and that you have your personal weapon with you. Follow the officer’s instructions to the letter, repeating them for clarity if you feel you must, but remember to be cognizant of the tone of your voice. If the officer feels as though you are getting angry or agitated, you will see a definite shift in his or her demeanor. If you are not required to announce that you have a concealed carry permit, it is often best not to do so.
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I was pulled over about a month ago for speeding. I was in a different state but one the honored my ccl. As soon as he got to my window I in formed him that I had my ccl and that I had it in the car. I followed his instructions, notifying him where it was and providing my ccl when asked.
I work for a securoty company and I carry for work as well as work with several LEOs. Everyone of them have told me that whether the state law requires that you notify law enforcement of your ccl it is not only the right thing to do it is also the smart thing to. Out firearms trainer, who is a cop, said “you both wnet home. Tjats the beat outcome possible.”
Short statement is this: firearms are enough of a hot button topic. There is no reason to antagonize it further by not cooperating with law enforcement.
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Welcome @Shawn4! Interested in what state you were in, and how the officer was about it, and what he asked you to do.
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TX law may have changed since 2019. Section 411.205 of the Texas Government Code a.k.a. “duty to inform” law says that if a person with a LTC is carrying a handgun and is asked by a peace officer to show ID, they must show both:
1.) Their driver’s license or other ID
2.) Their handgun license
Depends on the state I am in and their laws, if the law requires I announce I have a firearm I do, if the law says I only have to report a firearm when asked, that is what I do. I see no reason to announce a firearm if it’s not required in the state. A traffic violation is no reason for an officer to feel threatened by a citizen and if they do feel threatened while handling a traffic violation they should probably find a new job because they will more than likely overreact.