LEO Contact

**ChrisG** · #1 (**permalink**) 05-20-2008, 07:59 PM

I was getting on the freeway last saturday and was involved in a very minor fender bender. The guy in the other car insisted on calling CHP to get an official report. Apparently he got screwed by someone prevously who didn't have insurance... and he was being a bit of a jerk.

I got my DL and CCW license out of my wallet so I would have it handy when the officer arrived. He got there and I immediately handed him both ID's. I wanted to be discrete as the other party was standing right there:

Officer: What's this (looking at the rice paper)?
CG: I am required to notify, sir

It was apparent he had not seen one before. He was very nervous.

Officer: You can have these back (handing me both ID's). Can I see your registration and proof of insurance?
CG: I'm sorry sir, I left them in my car.
Officer: Would you please go get them?
CG: Yes sir
Officer (As I'm walking away): Uh, is IT in your car?
CG: No sir, it's on me.

He started to let me walk to my car by myself but thought better of it and came with me. As I handed him the insurance and registration:

Officer: Why do you have a CCW?
CG: Sir, I was issued by the OCSD for valid good cause.
Officer: OK

Mind you it was about 100 degrees out. The other party had been a bit rude. When the officer first showed up, insisting on the report even though the damage was minor and the officer had said there was really nothing he could do since we had already exchanged insurance info and such.

The officer finished my paper work first, we BS'd a little bit. I could see the other guy was getting really annoyed.

When the officer handed me my paperwork back, I asked his permission to put my wallet back in my rear right pocket. He had no issue with it.

As has been stated by other members, if you are courteous and forthcoming with information you will NOT have a problem with LEO's. While it may not be a requirement in most counties I would definitely recommend notifying in similar situations.

**THE Gimper** · #2 (**permalink**) 05-20-2008, 08:01 PM

Excellent! Sounds like you handled it perfectly. By the way, nice new avatar.

AMS MIKE · #3 (**permalink**) 05-20-2008, 08:02 PM

handled quite well. And you were only 30min late to your date

btw....Nice new avatar. didn't know you smoked.

**ChrisG** · #4 (**permalink**) 05-20-2008, 08:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by THE Gimper

Excellent! Sounds like you handled it perfectly. By the way, nice new avatar.

Thank you and thank you. The sig line matches the avatar.

**ChrisG** · #5 (**permalink**) 05-20-2008, 08:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AMS MIKE

handled quite well. And you were only 30min late to your date

btw....Nice new avatar. didn't know you smoked.

I've been trained by the best. My DATES didn't mind... much.

Yeah, the last avatar made me gag everytime I saw it.

**THE Gimper** · #6 (**permalink**) 05-20-2008, 08:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChrisG

Thank you and thank you. The sig line matches the avatar.

El Gato · #7 (**permalink**) 05-20-2008, 08:25 PM

I really liked the way you handled it...

I had a contact with a witness last week who was carrying a very large knife... like with a blade 12-16 in. long... I asked him to stick around (as in knife...stick around... it's a joke...ok not that funny) and then went off chasing the perp... who was caught by the local pd after committing several felonies by the by...
When I got back, the witness had disarmed himself and was standing politely by... I asked... "so what did you with the pig-sticker" (him being a local redneck type dude who had previously been assigned to me to supervise in my Probation Officer type capacity)... he responded that he had secured it in the tack room (we were at a horse corral where the crime had taken place and my partner and I were first on the scene.. waiting for the Sheriff)...
As an officer... having someone be that polite, as you were, and conscious of my general nervousness around large cutters... was very comforting...we had a nice conversation and the perp went to jail and your story reminds me that not everyone I contact is out to get me... I still behave as if they are... but not all of them are...out to hurt me... that is...

**Glock32** · #8 (**permalink**) 05-20-2008, 08:58 PM

nice report ChrisG. I think I would have done the exact same thing. Glad to hear things went well.

Bombard · #9 (**permalink**) 05-20-2008, 09:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by El Gato

I had a contact with a witness last week who was carrying a very large knife... like with a blade 12-16 in. long.

At what point do we stop calling it a knife and start calling it a sword?

Well done, Chris.

maldos · #10 (**permalink**) 05-20-2008, 09:12 PM

It's postings like this which show the rest of us just how to handle the encounter. Everything you said and did put the Leo at ease.

Over the years, I have spend many hours in the ERs talking to Leos and most are really nice just trying to do a tough job and get home safely. I have nothing but admiration for the position.

Norseman · #11 (**permalink**) 05-20-2008, 09:35 PM

Officer: What's this (looking at the rice paper)?
CG: I am required to notify, sir

It was apparent he had not seen one before. He was very nervous.

Officer: You can have these back (handing me both ID's). Can I see your registration and proof of insurance?
CG: I'm sorry sir, I left them in my car.
Officer: Would you please go get them?
CG: Yes sir
Officer (As I'm walking away): Uh, is IT in your car?
CG: No sir, it's on me.

He started to let me walk to my car by myself but thought better of it and came with me. As I handed him the insurance and registration:

Officer: Why do you have a CCW?
CG: Sir, I was issued by the OCSD for valid good cause.
Officer: OK

I spent 30 years working the roads. I retired 2 years ago. In 30 years, I had exactly 2 CCW's presented to me the last 2 years of my career. Unfortunately, LEO's don't receive any real CCW training in the academys, as they aren't part of POST regulations. They are only generally aware that they exist. They never even get to see one as a sample. This was probably the first time this officer had seen one, and had a natural curiosity about it. Please son't assume that an officer questioning you, us, or me about our CCW is challenging our right to it; he is relying on you to educate him about it, is all. It seems as if your conducted yourself as a good ambasador for our cause for the next time this officer encounters a CCW holder.

Bombard · #12 (**permalink**) 05-20-2008, 09:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Norseman

I spent 30 years working the roads. I retired 2 years ago. In 30 years, I had exactly 2 CCW's presented to me the last 2 years of my career. Unfortunately, LEO's don't receive any real CCW training in the academys, as they aren't part of POST regulations. They are only generally aware that they exist. They never even get to see one as a sample. This was probably the first time this officer had seen one, and had a natural curiosity about it. Please son't assume that an officer questioning you, us, or me about our CCW is challenging our right to it; he is relying on you to educate him about it, is all. It seems as if your conducted yourself as a good ambasador for our cause for the next time this officer encounters a CCW holder.

That's one of the reasons I REALLY hope we get credit-card form CCWs. If you don't know what one really looks like, the rice paper seems like a bad forgery.

**THE Gimper** · #13 (**permalink**) 05-20-2008, 10:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bombard

That's one of the reasons I REALLY hope we get credit-card form CCWs. If you don't know what one really looks like, the rice paper seems like a bad forgery.

Excellent point.