One night my wife and I are driving home when we notice a large, dark shape in the middle of the road. I come to a stop as my headlights illuminate a large steer. Looking around we see that about a dozen head of cattle are milling about on the roadway. We hit the flashers, heard the cattle off into the berm and when there is no answer at the nearest house call the Sherriff. The Sheriff says it will be 15-20 minutes before a Deputy can get there and ask if we’d be willing to direct traffic until they arrive.

When the Deputy arrives I start to inform and he waves his hand and says “Thanks, don’t care, we need to move these cows.”

Second time was when my son hit a deer with my truck. When he called to inform me I told him to get a police report and since my CCW was tied to the truck plates make SURE he informed the LEO it was not his truck and he was not armed. When my wife and I arrived an Ohio State Highway Patrol Officer was waiting with my son. When I started to inform he asked where I was carrying and I told him. He thin turned to my wife and asked if she was carrying to which she replied “No, I don’t have a permit.” The Patrolman said” Ma’am, you should consider getting one. If you saw the things I do every day you wouldn’t leave the house unarmed.” She has since got her permit.

OK, these are boring stories. However I think they reflect the average encounter CCW holders have with LEO in Ohio. The Canton video is bad and encounters like that do happen. However those are very much the exception the last few years, not the rule.

Thanks for taking the time to tell us how it should happen!!

It also helps that you weren't looking for pros or drugs.

__________________
Fidelis Ad Mortem

Walnut, I wish all people were like you, a true stand up guy who protects himself and society. You are one of the good guy's, for sure.

__________________
Fidelis Ad Mortem

That is how the vast majority of encounters seem to go here in MO as well. We have no duty to inform, but a lot of folks will inform anyway. I know several people who firmly believe they got out of a ticket by informing. Unfortunately, I also know of several incidents that have "gone bad" after a person voluntarily informed.

Most LEO's are professional, sensible people. They just want to do their job and go home in one piece at the end of the day. As with any group of people, there are the occasional "bad apples" in the bunch that proliferate the stereotypes many people believe about LEO's in general. Unfortunately, you just never know if you will be dealing with "good cop" or "bad cop" when you see those read lights flashing behind you.

walnutred - thanks for sharing your stories. It's good to hear what can happen in different circumstances. Both of yours had good endings!

On the Ohio CCW focused web sites encounters with LEOs are a common topic. Most involve traffic citations because frankly that is how most of us interact with Police Officers in their professional capacity. Even on traffic ticket situations VERY few encounters are different than what my experiences were.

This was not initially the case and I think the duty to inform and the FOP being publicly against CCW permits in Ohio caused a lot more problems than it ever prevented. Prior to CCW permits Ohio had what they called a "prudent man" defense against being charged with unlawfully carrying a concealed weapon. For example, if you were a business owner and wanted to drop a handgun in you pocket when you made deposits few people cared.

At that time there was also no duty to inform. I'd bet many LEOs encountered individuals who were armed and never knew it during traffic stops.

Good for you. You are doing right by the law, yourself and family.

You should be glad you don't live in Philadelphia! Anyone who carries in that city is considered a criminal regardless of the law.

The PPD is taking everyone that lawfully carries down at gun point! We're just hoping no one gets killed before those upholding the law start to follow it.

Best regards,

Kobsw

Most law enforcement are understanding and then there are exceptions. I have had weapons in a car on the back seat and was only asked if they were loaded. But I have also talked with other P.O. And found they're knowledge of firearms law to be wrong. Actually had one tell me I needed to get a ccw to keep a weapon in my truck. Law enforcement has no fear from law abiding citizens.

You got to meet some of the Good Cops, those in Canton need to be dropped kicked to the curb and the brakes beat off them. 90 days no pay, full retraining at the Academy and 3 years of probation as a LEO.

__________________
Protected by Sigma 40VE

Ah, quoting our State Motto I see.

I was so upset when I watched the Canto Dash cam video. (The entire video) I wrote to the Chief of the Canton PD and told him I felt the officer should be terminated. Any cop who tells someone he could sleep well after executing an individual is a disgrace to the badge. He is also somone who has probably never had the misfortune of having to have used his weapon in the line of duty and if he has, i would wonder just how justified the shooting was. He embarrassed every decent cop I know and for those of us who retired honorably it is a stain on us too. I really don't care what that citizen was doing, it pales in comparisson to the despicable conduct of the officer.

I attribute it to "Donut intoxication".

__________________
Fidelis Ad Mortem

I agree with you fully. How this guy slipped through the cracks is beyond comprehension. Every LEO should see this and write or email the Chief of the City of Canton Ohio and tell him what a disgrace this man is to the law enforcement profession and he should be terminated. Then arrested and charged. But you have to wonder about the command structure - are they doing their job or just mailing it in. As I have read elsewhere, this guy has 16 of these type incidents he's been investigated for and one for excessive force and he's still on the job. This guy is going to be famous for his misconduct and 99% of LEO's out there that do an outstanding job day after day have to live down this idiots' reputation. To all the hard-working, decent coppers out there - thanks for what you do, and stay safe + check six.

If your information is true and I have no reason to not believe it is, he would be showing a pattern of abusive behavior. I know that as a Supervisor I spent 80% of my time Supervising about 5% of those who worked for me. Same guys caused the same problems all the time. While I firmly believe even cops have due process rights, there comes a time when bad cops need to be shown where the exit doors are at the PD. As one Captain used to say, "Son quit bitching, you had to take a test to get this job, you don't have to take one to leave it."

I think that problems like this LEO are due to the influx of federal money, expanding police departments beyond their capacity to properly screen and, perhaps, to properly train.
I suspect (having some familiarity with the process) that when a department is given a grant to expand its force, and there is, as always, a time limit to make use of the grant, they have to "rush to judgement" and do their best but it is a rush.
They end up making mistakes. This guy is one of those mistakes.

__________________
"The only constant is change."

Stationed in Ohio-local HP and Police were our friends. Here, in MO local law knows many of us are armed-and if they (the police) get in a bind, a citizen will help. Very very unfortunate that when MO was trying to push CCW the Illinois HP announced that they would stop all MO plated cars. Really too bad, since the place you should be armed is E. St. Louis.

The law enforcement community in most areas are becoming more accustomed to the concealed carry fact. These officers appreciate the notification of carry (a part of the law here in Ohio) and respect the people for it. I've had one stop in the three years of my carry, not a citation deal, just an information inquiry as I had really just pulled off to the side of the road to replace a hearing aid battery.
I notified the officer as required, answered his question about the pull off, he said thanks, and I was on my way shortly. There were no other questions or inquires concerning the firearm. The whole stop was over in a very few minutes, he ran my license, came back and said to have a good day and I wished him one as well.