Officers, LEO's...How many times a day do you draw your weapon? - Page 2

rburch · December 12, 2010, 03:35 PM

Quote:

i do remember hearing something about a NY city rule that ruled that placing your hand on a holstered gun was considered threatening. If you worked NYPD you obviously know more than me, but I do seem to remember the civilian review board made life difficult for a NYPD officer. Is it possible that this topic was in the news because of publicity from the civilian review board?

Quote:

Sounds like New York state has a few more barriers in place to make it a hassle for Officers to protect themselves!

Sorry, but if you're in a conflict with somebody (even verbal conflicts) and you grip your sidearm it is a show of force. It is a statement of your ability and preparation to use deadly force.

There are many situations where it is an appropriate response, but I've seen far too many officers use it to say I have a gun, you have to do what I say!

Glenn Dee · December 13, 2010, 07:01 PM

Hey Silver... Fellow NY'r.

There was an edict that we remove all visible ammo from our duty gear, and that it was considered threatening. Many of us carried an excess of the 18 mandatory rounds in open belt loops. That was considered by some to be threatening that the police actually have bullets. OMG!!!

Some guys wore 12 rounds on the back of their duty belt. Made them look like they were wearing a cowboy rig. I wore 6 on the front weak side of my gun belt. Mostly for the CDI factor though. Then one day it all ended...most of us went out and got an extra set of box carriers. (I always carried 24 spares)

But again.... I cant remember ever in my time hearing an order, or seeing a Patrol guide prociedure forbiding having hand on gun. As I said it was actually taught as a sound tactic.

Glenn Dee

WANT A LCR 22LR · December 14, 2010, 05:33 PM

"" There are many situations where it is an appropriate response, but I've seen far too many officers use it to say I have a gun, you have to do what I say! ""

It should be enough that a uniformed officer is saying do what I say. When a person does not comply with a officer I see nothing wrong with the cop gripping a firearm as the person has already escalated the event.

tc556guy · December 14, 2010, 06:40 PM

I'm in a rural area. Couple of times a week, maybe..thats for dispatching deer, clearing a building, etc.

I'm sure that its much higher in urban areas. We recently had a guy transfer to an urban dept an hour away; he stopped back a month later to say he drew his gun more his first two weeks there than he did with us in two years.

Single Six · December 19, 2010, 11:49 PM

In the small southern town I serve in, numerous times a year over the past 20. More often than not, it's during building searches. More rarely, I've had to draw down on individuals...I'd say maybe between 30 to 40, total. Thankfully, every person I've confronted in this manner has surrendered...so far. I genuinely hope it remains that way. On those [also rare] situations I've had where I knew going in that armed encounters were more likely, I've left the pistol in it's holster and opted for the long gun as my primary armament. Compared to what my brother LEOs in the big cities face, I know I have it comparatively easy in many ways...and I wouldn't trade working here in Mayberry for anything else!

HorseSoldier · December 20, 2010, 01:36 AM

Up here it would depend on shift. Mids (2300-0900) probably averaging out to once and change per shift (some nights more than once, occasionally not at all). Less frequently on Days (0700-1700), and then usually only for a warrant service or for a building search after an alarm pops, and somewhere in between on Swings (1500-0100).

donglock26 · December 20, 2010, 05:44 PM

I work in a high crime suburb of a high crime big city. Some days, I don't unholster my weapon. Some days, it's a few times a day depending on the calls- hold-up alarms, B&E alarms, family fights with weapons in the house, felony stops for stolen cars or narcotics activity, ect.

FM12 · January 5, 2011, 12:19 AM

I retired Aug 1 after 35 years combined small town (10 years) and state investigator (25 yrs). Unholstered maybe a dozen times during felony arrests. Never fired a shot.

CorpITGuy · January 5, 2011, 08:05 PM

Spoke with an LEO friend who said she draws hers every time she works at night, multiple times. She said any time approaches a vehicle, she has her hand on her gun. If there is anything at all suspicious, she draws her Glock 22 and places it behind her right leg. No one has ever noticed, and she's less likely to, as some here have said, "play catchup".

B.N.Real · January 8, 2011, 01:17 PM

Amazing responses here.

I expected alot of "I never had to draw mine in so and so years."

Better a gun drawn and reholstered then a gun not drawn and you're shot. I guess.

Glad to see officers,retired and active, here to post.

Great thread.

December 14, 2010, 06:40 PM	#29
tc556guy Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2000 Location: Upstate NY Posts: 763	I'm in a rural area. Couple of times a week, maybe..thats for dispatching deer, clearing a building, etc. I'm sure that its much higher in urban areas. We recently had a guy transfer to an urban dept an hour away; he stopped back a month later to say he drew his gun more his first two weeks there than he did with us in two years. __________________ Information posted is personal opinion and should not be considered information released in an official capacity

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December 13, 2010, 07:01 PM	#27
Glenn Dee Senior Member Join Date: September 9, 2009 Location: South Florida Posts: 1,560	Hey Silver... Fellow NY'r. There was an edict that we remove all visible ammo from our duty gear, and that it was considered threatening. Many of us carried an excess of the 18 mandatory rounds in open belt loops. That was considered by some to be threatening that the police actually have bullets. OMG!!! Some guys wore 12 rounds on the back of their duty belt. Made them look like they were wearing a cowboy rig. I wore 6 on the front weak side of my gun belt. Mostly for the CDI factor though. Then one day it all ended...most of us went out and got an extra set of box carriers. (I always carried 24 spares) But again.... I cant remember ever in my time hearing an order, or seeing a Patrol guide prociedure forbiding having hand on gun. As I said it was actually taught as a sound tactic. Glenn Dee

December 14, 2010, 05:33 PM	#28
WANT A LCR 22LR Senior Member Join Date: September 5, 2010 Posts: 389	"" There are many situations where it is an appropriate response, but I've seen far too many officers use it to say I have a gun, you have to do what I say! "" It should be enough that a uniformed officer is saying do what I say. When a person does not comply with a officer I see nothing wrong with the cop gripping a firearm as the person has already escalated the event.

December 19, 2010, 11:49 PM	#30
Single Six Senior Member Join Date: January 31, 2010 Location: N.C. Posts: 1,522	In the small southern town I serve in, numerous times a year over the past 20. More often than not, it's during building searches. More rarely, I've had to draw down on individuals...I'd say maybe between 30 to 40, total. Thankfully, every person I've confronted in this manner has surrendered...so far. I genuinely hope it remains that way. On those [also rare] situations I've had where I knew going in that armed encounters were more likely, I've left the pistol in it's holster and opted for the long gun as my primary armament. Compared to what my brother LEOs in the big cities face, I know I have it comparatively easy in many ways...and I wouldn't trade working here in Mayberry for anything else!

December 20, 2010, 01:36 AM	#31
HorseSoldier Senior Member Join Date: February 27, 2006 Location: OCONUS 61°13′06″N 149°53′57″W Posts: 2,282	Up here it would depend on shift. Mids (2300-0900) probably averaging out to once and change per shift (some nights more than once, occasionally not at all). Less frequently on Days (0700-1700), and then usually only for a warrant service or for a building search after an alarm pops, and somewhere in between on Swings (1500-0100).

December 20, 2010, 05:44 PM	#32
donglock26 Senior Member Join Date: July 4, 2001 Posts: 186	I work in a high crime suburb of a high crime big city. Some days, I don't unholster my weapon. Some days, it's a few times a day depending on the calls- hold-up alarms, B&E alarms, family fights with weapons in the house, felony stops for stolen cars or narcotics activity, ect.

January 5, 2011, 12:19 AM	#33
FM12 Senior Member Join Date: February 5, 2007 Location: Monroeville, Alabama Posts: 1,683	I retired Aug 1 after 35 years combined small town (10 years) and state investigator (25 yrs). Unholstered maybe a dozen times during felony arrests. Never fired a shot.

January 5, 2011, 08:05 PM	#34
CorpITGuy Senior Member Join Date: May 14, 2009 Posts: 113	Spoke with an LEO friend who said she draws hers every time she works at night, multiple times. She said any time approaches a vehicle, she has her hand on her gun. If there is anything at all suspicious, she draws her Glock 22 and places it behind her right leg. No one has ever noticed, and she's less likely to, as some here have said, "play catchup".

January 8, 2011, 01:17 PM	#35
B.N.Real Senior Member Join Date: February 22, 2008 Posts: 4,092	Amazing responses here. I expected alot of "I never had to draw mine in so and so years." Better a gun drawn and reholstered then a gun not drawn and you're shot. I guess. Glad to see officers,retired and active, here to post. Great thread.