Texas Dad arrested for having a rifle?

So does anyone really believe that if things get bad there will not be many LEO's and Military members that will just "Follow Orders" and violate your rights?
No question there will be many who will be more than willing to do as they are told.
This indecent is walking talking evidence that there are those LEO's who have no regard for citizens rights. They believe their badge is all the empowerment they need. They will not hesitate to kick your door in , in the middle of the night to take your guns. They said it themselves, a citizen with a gun is dangerous.
The lame excuse "I was just following orders" in the end did not work for the Nazi's either.

LEO's are people too, their ranks are as diverse as America is. There are some awfully good guys and gals within their ranks, and there are some real rejects as well.
 
Another molestation of a LAW ABIDING citizen.........absolutley disgusting...............:( As for the questioning of the minor with no parental consent, I hope this young man gets to write his own ticket financially as to where he wants to further his life and his education. I feel sorry for the hard working, honest, and courteous officers that work so hard to not have this appearance. Again, I'm incredibly disgusted..........
 
The unanswered question is WHERE WAS HE?

In Texas, most land is privately owned and he could carry a firearm/hunt with the landowner's permission. Was he in a park? or other public property? If he was in the city limits, there may be city ordinances that apply to this.
 
My favorite part was where the officer stated that the "law doesn't apply to us."

I'm sure the lawyers in the audience are salivating over that one.
 
There's no difference between what this man was doing and a hunter walking down a road with a loaded gun. Its perfectly legal (at least it is here in PA) unless the individual shoots across the road. Some here have accused me of "cop bashing" in the past but this is exactly what I mean about some local LEOs. I hope the man wins any ensuing lawsuits and makes a big donation to the Boys Scouts of America!
 
Bless all that serve justly and honorably.....

It is so sad and misguided that it has come down to something like this. What have we become? Stirred by media outcry for manufactured results? I believe that every LEO has the DUTY to act above personal and emotional opinion and be an example of a public servant and enforcer only when it is needed. This does not imply in any way that an officer should put themselves in harms way for those that would exploit it. The job is a CHOICE, and that choice dictates that you put your actions above the average person. I can only imagine what a tough row to hoe that can be. It is still a choice........and to exalt yourself for it tells me you are not the person for the job. Your actions define who you are, not the uniform or its' accessories. You can own $50,000 worth of tools and not be a mechanic.................Just sayin'
 
The guy was mouthy but he did follow all the orders the police gave. I wonder why people become officers; romanticize being a movie star hero or catching as many bad guys as they can no matter the cost or genuinely want to protect and serve.

Grisham should send the video to Magpul (after he buys a few Magpul mags). Magpul could just mention it to Texas Gov Perry and things would get done. Money talks.

As an aside, it is similar to a past thread where the police stopped everyone at an intersection, pulled everyone out and sat them on the curve, handcuffed to catch an armed bank robber. I posted if I were handcuffed then I would have to be charged with something. I got a lot of gruff from LEO's on this forum. Well, I don't mind stepping away from my car but the police shouldn't put citizens in a dangerous situation - an armed felon is near and citizens are sitting & handcuff making them prime targets.
 
Just Wrong!

Early in my 34 year LEO career I decided to get into police management, partly in order to do something about inept officers. Although I can only comment on what is portrayed in the video, it appears that Temple, Texas is in a world of hurt. The arresting officer needs to be relieved of duty. The sergeant needs to get a very long course in the law, diplomacy and supervision...after he's demoted. Any monetary payment to the father or son will come out of the pockets of the local citizens, which is wrong also. I have long thought that any illegal activity on the part of a public employee should be paid for by that employee and the city (in this case) if it can be shown that the city was deficient in training, procedure, rules, etc. At the very least, if I were the chief in Temple, two officers would be on a permanent graveyard shift in the evidence room until this matter was concluded. There are too many good officers out there and too many in line for such jobs to allow these two to complete their careers on the taxpayer's dime. I hope the updates continue on the Forum, so we can see the outcome.
 
Update.

Sgt. Grisham was on the Glenn Beck show this morning. The area in which he and his son were walking was adjacent to their family farm. They were walking down the road, ready to access the farm property when they were stopped.

He admitted that he probably could've been a little calmer, but it just surprised the heck out of him the way those guys were acting.

Now the police are saying that Sgt. Grisham has a "questionable past" that they are investigating. His so-called "questionable past" is that he has a Constitutionalist blog spot and he speaks his mind.

The Temple Police Department isn't saying too much about this whole thing.
 
After watching the entire video, it appears to substantiate Sgt. Grisham's claim for the most part. To me, it appears that the arresting officer attempted to come up with some reasons why he disarmed Sgt. Grisham, BUT only after the fact. The most telling exchange was when the arresting officer said he himself felt threatened by Sgt. Grisham simply because Sgt. Grisham had a firearm. Really? Assuming that the arresting officer actually felt threatened, he put himself in that position. It was not as if the officer was parked on the side of the road, and he sees a guy brandishing a rifle in an aggressive manner (i.e. pointing the rifle at him or someone else). Instead, the arresting officer confronted Sgt. Grisham, and tried to take his rifle (allegedly) without cause. To me, it would appear that Sgt. Grisham is the one that should have felt threatened.

As for clamoring for a big lawsuit against Temple police, we, as taxpayers, all lose each time someone sue and gets money from any governmental entity. Unfortunately, it appears to me that the officers involved overreacted and violated Sgt. Grisham and his son's rights. If I was Sgt. Grisham, I'd sue but ask only for the immediate termination of the officers involved.

I can understand an ordinary non-LEO citizen getting freaked out if I was walking around with my AR15. But in my opinion, the officers should have determined if there is any law being violated first. If no law is being violated, the officers should report back to the "concerned" citizen and explained the law to him/her about walking around with a rifle. Just my thoughts.
 
Pretty sure that around here the response of most 911 operators to the person complaining about someone walking along the road carrying a rifle, without any indication of brandishing or threatening or other criminal activity would be "Thanks for the call, and have a nice day."

Maybe somebody could send Temple P.D. a link to the "Concealed Carry and the Mexican Restaurant" thread that was active here a few weeks ago, for training purposes.
 
Mule Packer said:
Update.

Sgt. Grisham was on the Glenn Beck show this morning. The area in which he and his son were walking was adjacent to their family farm. They were walking down the road, ready to access the farm property when they were stopped.

He admitted that he probably could've been a little calmer, but it just surprised the heck out of him the way those guys were acting.

Now the police are saying that Sgt. Grisham has a "questionable past" that they are investigating. His so-called "questionable past" is that he has a Constitutionalist blog spot and he speaks his mind.

The Temple Police Department isn't saying too much about this whole thing.
Click to expand...

I heard that interview on Beck's show this morning too. Glen said he wished the Sgt. could have been calmer,but he understood how he felt and suggested he seek big time legal counsel. Sgt. Grisham said he advised his son not to answer any questions when the police officer took him home. He told his son to speak only to his mother before anything else was said. The Sgt. said the police officer would not let his son out of the car when he got home until he answered his questions. Of course the kid was shook up and answered the questions. Then he was able to tell his mom what went on. Beck asked if the Sgt. would be satisfied if the officers were fired and then no other legal action would take place on his part? Sgt. Grisham said that would satisfy him and he would not seek any money from the police dept. Sgt. Grisham is supposed to be on Beck's T.V. show this evening.
 
In my opinion, Sgt. Grisham was about as calm as anyone could have been under the circumstances. He didn't even use any expletives until towards the middle and end of the video, when he said "bulls-it".
 
From the video he doesnt seem to be just fishing to get cops on camera. Having the rifle slung another way would have made the incident a little less tense I bet... think... think... think. Im not backing the cops up, just thinking about how to avoid the situation.

The end of the video was the worst. They couldnt even answer why he was being arrested.
 
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Dave's right. The whole world is watching this one.

Was Sgt. Grisham a little mouthy or even belligerent to police officers? Probably. But, that's not against the law. Sure, the officers undoubtedly didn't appreciate that. I don't blame them...but it's still not illegal. Even a moderately capable civil rights attorney could adequately prove that Grisham was just exercising his freedom of speech.

On the other hand, to deny someone due process or to violate their civil rights is definitely illegal. And to arrest someone for resisting arrest for being arrested for doing nothing illegal????...well, I think the Temple boys may have overstepped on this one.

I'm just gonna sit back and watch how this plays out. Should be interesting.
 
Mule Packer said:
I'm just gonna sit back and watch how this plays out. Should be interesting.
Click to expand...


Yes, this is gonna get interesting to say the least.


.

Officer safety vs citizen's rights....What would have been
the correct action for both parties in this incident?

Could have Mr. Grisham been more cooperative by advising the
officer that he was indeed a concealed handgun license holder
and was caring a concealed sidearm as well as the openly carried long gun, along with his showing his valid permit?

Could have Mr. Grisham also advised the responding officer that he and his son were
hiking on the FM or County road adjacent to their family ranch/farm property?

When it's all said and done....There'll be a hell of a lot more said than done.

I suspect a civil rights law suit will be forth coming.....Temple's city attorney(s)
along with the liability insuring agency will seek to settle this
thing out of court with a non discloser clause in/of the terms of said settlement.


In closing...I'm just pondering here, if those two Temple City police officers,
had been instead two TPWD Officers/Game Wardens,
this whole thing could've/would've, been a non-issue, maybe.

Police officers that do not know or care to know the laws and
statutes in the juriciction of their operation are setting themselves
and their agency up for law suit upon law suit...Or worse



.
 
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