I was travelling through a new town with a load of client's cattle when the red and blue lights showed in my mirrors. Aside from the Smith on my hip I had a Ruger hanging from the head rest, and made these things known to the older looking officer. The conversation went something like this;

"Is that an Old Model .44 flat-top hanging in that belt?"

"Yes sir."

"You're a little too young for that. Must have been your grandpa's?"

"Yes sir. He traded some mechanic work for it years ago."

"Ever shot anything with it?"

"Just the basics; whitetail and hogs."

"Mind if I see it?"

Normally I'm not keen on turning over my guns, even to a friendly LEO, but he had an Eagle, Globe, and Anchor on his forearm. I carefully unloaded it and he fondled the pistol like a guy whose used one before. But here is the kicker;

"There's a Texan named Zane Thompson who would set you up with a nice set of stocks for this beauty."

I told him they're already wearing a set of Zane's mesquite burl. Talk about a small world, this encounter being in southwest Missouri. He handed it back to me, told me to have a good day, and left. He never mentioned why I was pulled over. By and large, my experience with law enforcement has always been respectful and positive. Still yet, you don't run in to old timers like that very often anymore.

Had s similar kind of thing happen to me back in the mid 70's. Been visiiting family in San Antonio, TX, and was driving back to Wichita, KS, where I lived and worked. In a sparse area of Oklahoma The red lights lit up behime me. In the "pre Concealed Carry" cays, display was the key... in Texas, anyway. I had my Colt 1911 (WWI issue) laying on the dash. The troopwer walked up and asked form my DL, etc. I handed it over. He asked about the gun on top of the dash. I told him it was there to be visible. He told me it was illegal to display a handgun in OK, and asked me to hand it over. It Was fully loaded and had a round in the chameber. He took the Colt back to his cruiser. I figured it was gone forever and that I might spend the rest of the weekend in lockup.

A few minutes later he cam back with the Colt but did not have a ticket. He gave me back my ID. He then handed me back the Colt and asked if I knew what it was. I told him I did. He said he just couldn't bring himself to turn in a 1917 issue 1911. He said to put the gun under my seat and get gone to Kansas. I thanked him and drove off. Never did find out why he stopped me...

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Randy
Provenance nerd

What each of the above stories illustrates is something Lost to today's generation of Gen X, Y or Z young cops. That is the diligent power of discretion. I'm not talking about just split second life & death decisions, which does not apply in either situation.
They "flexed" the rules and did not do anything drastic that could have potentially hurt a citizen. Most of today's young officers do everything by the book and there was the possibility of losing the gun, car impounded and owner in jail especially in today's anti-gun climate.
Both nice stories with good outcomes, Thanks for sharing with us.

A few years ago I posted that on at least two occasions when I was the Chief here in town, I removed rifles from the rack of unlocked, windows down vehicles parked down town. I took them to the office and waited for the owner to come and claim them vs. some miscreant stealing them and using them for some nefarious purpose. Saved a couple of people from possible discomfort on both ends. I got flamed here on the forum for that but I really don't care!
After the time when they passed the law about not taking guns on school grounds I got a call one day to go to the high school because a student had left a rifle in his truck in the rack. Some wanted me to throw the book at him. It was a matter of forgetting that it was there. The student had no ill purpose in mind. The matter was dropped. As we all know, there was a much better time when kids would bring a .22 to school, put it in their locker on in the Principal's office and would retrieve it after school. He would then hunt whatever on the way home with no questions asked. I always asked my officers to exercise common sense when dealing with folks and if they didn't, we had a conversation!

Back in the old days (as we are prone to preface some things now) young cops were taught that discretion was an integral part of the job, the minimum intervention in peoples' lives was usually the best course of action. Never make an arrest when a summons can serve the purpose, and never issue a summons when a simple warning will suffice.

Firm, fair, and friendly were the bywords. Nothing is ever personal, no contact is ever a contest.

We were peace officers, not avenging angels on a mission from some omniscient source of power or authority. There was no such thing as the "thin blue line" between order and anarchy, only a bit of common sense applied to everyday situations involving everyday human interactions.

Then the mental institutions were shut down and dysfunctional people were "mainstreamed" into the communities. Then jails and prisons were limited as demeaning to human dignity (for heaven's sake, double-bunking in a cell imposes on human rights!). Probation became the norm; the more convictions you accumulated the longer your suspended sentence would be. Early release on parole became mandatory, especially when budgets were stretched to pay for other programs.

No one is responsible for anything now. There is never any problem until the dummy in a blue suit with a badge shows up and starts all the trouble.

The dummy in the blue suit wearing a badge knows that he is in the position of responsibility; anytime anything goes wrong he will be held responsible, thrown under the bus, vilified in the media every time.

I would not consider employment as a peace officer in the current environment, and I would not recommend it as a career choice for my grown children or grandchildren. The risks (physical, financial, emotional, and legal) far exceed any benefits.

Rant over.

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Life of the party until 8:00PM

I have a detective friend with local Sheriffs Department. His attitude is there’s the law and there’s the spirit of the law. Often 2 different things.

Lobo and I think much alike. I served during a time when taking care of the public was the order of business. Don't get me wrong, the criminals didn't care for me either, cuz I took care of them in short order when needed as well. Just as he said, I loved serving for over 36 yrs and was an EMT for 9 of that as well but, I would not encourage any young person to enter the field in the present environment under any circumstances.

The voice of experience. They were better times both for the police and the community.

Well said gentlemen,

Al

With well over 30 years in and still working, I can tell some of you folks that you are painting those young people in law enforcement with a VERY broad brush. They deserve a lot more credit than you give them. They understand and use plenty of common sense discretion.
Despite my flawed FTO abilities, as a whole they have turned out well.

I grew up in a smaller town in the DFW Metroplex. It was very common to see a .30-30 in the back window of a pickup truck, windows down parked in front of a restaurant on the Courthouse square (usually farmers on a coffee break, visiting). It never dawned on me (or any of my buddies to steal one of them. It just never crossed my mind.

I have lived (and policed) most of my adult life where a CWP is required (still a “Shall Issue” state, thank God) and I don’t remember citing any CWP holders, after all they had to pass a background check to get the CWP. Time to move on to the next one...

Sounds like a normal day at work to me.

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- Change it back -

My sincerest apologies, gentlemen. It was not my intention to cast a negative view over modern young officers. I simply wished to express a little gratitude, and tip my hat to a very old and some might say scarce breed of lawman who can appreciate a revolver, those who use them, and who is kind enough to give a fellow a discrete break from time to time.

That said, hats off to all LEOs for doing a job few are capable, and fewer are suited to do well.

I knew most of the older officers around here, having been in the Sheriff's Department Reserve unit when I was a young buck (now I'm an old coot). The average LEO around here these days looks to be about 17 years old. Pretty sure 99.9% of them wouldn't know a flattop Ruger from a can of beans.

They are not 2 different thing, just shades of the same thing. More accurately it is on a sliding scale. In my current position I get the ability to see things further on in the process. What I am finding more often than not is failure to not add what should be charged or not charge correctly. On mids I used to sit on the side of the road or in a safer area and just go through the statute book. These days I have a feeling that officers don't have time to do that.

I don't think anyone on this Forum would ever disparage a LEO, whether old, young or anywhere in between. It just has to be a "service to the public" mindset because as already posted...it sure cannot be the pay, the benefits (or lack thereof).

My wife and I have put nine kids through college and watched them grow in their respective careers. All make us proud every day, but the two youngest daughters cause us worry every single day. Both are married so you can say it is someone else's worry now....not true!

Both graduated with 4 year BS in sciences (Marine biology for 1, Environmental Science for the youngest). The marine biologist became a Registered Nurse but wanted "more action" so became a Trauma Level 1 ER Nurse....got plenty action with LEO's every shift. The other decided to be a State LEO. We said: "What? and Why?

Shes several years into it now and the worry does not go away for us. Every time there is an "incident" around or near Raleigh NC...we are glued to the TV set. I see a 130 lb short stature girl with a 23 lb duty belt and a Glock and Taser responding to some of the worst stuff humankind can put up.........yea...my wife and I worry.

Like said by others....hats off and kudos to ANYONE actually on the job or pursuing their career in LEO. Extra Kudos to those of you who made it safely to end of shift and retirement!

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Charlie B
SWCA#3083, SWHF#570