GrumpyOne Posted December 13, 2013 Share Posted December 13, 2013 I stopped by the local hamburger stand for lunch today, and a sheriff's deputy walked up behind me. I was trying to make small talk while our orders were being made. I noticed that he was carrying a Glock (from the mag basepad), and asked him what model...He said it wasn't a Glock, it was a SIG P22...I'm thinking, that ain't right, but whatever...So I was asking him how it shot, etc., how much time did he have at the SO, etc. He had 20 years with the local PD, and only 2 years with the SO...I suppose I got him interested in knowing exactly what he was carrying, so much so that he had to unholster and find out that it was indeed a G22... My question is this: How many of you LEO's, with the possiblilty of your life (and my life possibly) in the balance, know what weapon you are carrying and how it functions? Answer truthfully.... I find it disturbing that someone can be mandated to carry a sidearm for their chosen profession, and not even know what they are carrying. Is this the norm? Is this what the "Protect" in "Protect and Serve" means? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarge Posted December 13, 2013 Share Posted December 13, 2013 Scary but more common than most will ever admit Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrumpyOne Posted December 13, 2013 Author Share Posted December 13, 2013 To me, that would be like a NASCAR driver not knowing what "model" car they raced... Scary indeed! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RammerJammer Posted December 13, 2013 Share Posted December 13, 2013 I am an instructor for the feds and spend a good deal of time with the local PD. The only thing that surprises me is that he didn't accidentally shoot you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Youngeyes Posted December 13, 2013 Share Posted December 13, 2013 Out of all your stories that is the most unbelievable. Did that really happen? Nobody carries a gun without knowing what they carry. Do they? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve RA Posted December 13, 2013 Share Posted December 13, 2013 I shoot with one of the better shots on the local Sheriffs Dept. and from what he tells me about some of them, they shouldn't be allowed near a firearm. Their qualification requirements are horrible and a lot can't even qualify with out some "pencil" assistance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EEH Posted December 13, 2013 Share Posted December 13, 2013 It's a job I wouldn't want !!! It's a job I wouldn't want !!! It's a job I wouldn't want !!! It's a job I wouldn't want !!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AWLAZS Posted December 13, 2013 Share Posted December 13, 2013 I bet this is true Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrumpyOne Posted December 13, 2013 Author Share Posted December 13, 2013 Out of all your stories that is the most unbelievable. Did that really happen? Nobody carries a gun without knowing what they carry. Do they? This is absolutely true....I asked him what Glock it was, and he told me it was a SIG....I had already looked at the mag basepads...NO JOKE. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rhgunguy Posted December 13, 2013 Share Posted December 13, 2013 People look at me like I'm crazy when I tell them that a B class USPSA shooter is probably a better shot than 90%+ LEOs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Stevens Posted December 13, 2013 Share Posted December 13, 2013 Rest assured I was always aware of what handgun I carried. Good habits die hard, I still am:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ken_Bird Posted December 13, 2013 Share Posted December 13, 2013 I was LEO for 11 years, I can dam sure tell you what I carried, and why. And I could even use it very effectively. But SWAT demands that right. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hi-Power Jack Posted December 13, 2013 Share Posted December 13, 2013 I was told by a NYC sergeant, right after he retired from the force, tell me about the "safety" on his .38 revolver (you know, the one that allows the cylinder to open for reloading). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RangerTrace Posted December 13, 2013 Share Posted December 13, 2013 I find that story a little odd. Maybe he carried the Sig for all of his City time and only carried the Glock for the last two years. Maybe he was elderly and forgot? Even though lots of cops are not "gun" people, the majority of them would certainly know what kind of pistol they were carrying. In my experience, the majority of Texas DPS Troopers, Agents and Rangers shoot pretty well. Maybe not according to our USPSA standards, but when compared to LEOs in general. As for me, I really didn't care much about pistols or shooting until I made Ranger in 2004. Prior to that, I shot twice a year just like everybody else. I carried the issued Sig 226. But, once I made Ranger, I was able to carry 1911s and that started to change everything. First a Kimber Pro CDP, then three different Les Baers. The game changer was a Wilson Combat CQB in 38 Super. It was so fun and easy to shoot that I started to practice some and shot my first USPSA Match in March 2008. Thanks to some really good folks at the Tyler Good Times Shooters, I got hooked and started shooting more and more matches. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrumpyOne Posted December 13, 2013 Author Share Posted December 13, 2013 According to what he told me, in the 20 years at the local PD, they had changed sidearms 5 times, but had not changed since he had been with the SO. Personally, I don't care if you changed once a year, or once a month, you should know what you are carrying. If he was elderly (which he was maybe in his mid 50's), and he can't even remember what sidearm he's carrying, he shouldn't be allowed to carry a sidearm...not to mention what else he could or would forget in the course of duty.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whitedog Posted December 13, 2013 Share Posted December 13, 2013 Not to offend LEO's...but maybe he rode a desk. Or had some duty which basically made him inert. The only reason he even had a gun is it's part of the gear. I've seen this happen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
warpspeed Posted December 14, 2013 Share Posted December 14, 2013 I had an encounter with my local PD about several years ago. I asked him about his gun and he said they issue him a Glock but he had no idea what model, He said he was not a gun guy and never carried it outside of work. In fact, he did not take it home with him. It stayed at the station. I found it odd. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarge Posted December 14, 2013 Share Posted December 14, 2013 I had an encounter with my local PD about several years ago. I asked him about his gun and he said they issue him a Glock but he had no idea what model, He said he was not a gun guy and never carried it outside of work. In fact, he did not take it home with him. It stayed at the station. I found it odd. Geez, did he carry the bullet in his pocket? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve RA Posted December 14, 2013 Share Posted December 14, 2013 I'll bet he was also a wonderful shot !! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Round_Gun_Shooter Posted December 14, 2013 Share Posted December 14, 2013 I had an encounter with my local PD about several years ago. I asked him about his gun and he said they issue him a Glock but he had no idea what model, He said he was not a gun guy and never carried it outside of work. In fact, he did not take it home with him. It stayed at the station. I found it odd. Not odd at all. I was a Police Firearms instructor for my PD for 7yrs. As long as it goes bang when you want it to and doesn't when you don't, most don't care who made it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Sierpina Posted December 14, 2013 Share Posted December 14, 2013 For too many in law enforcement, their sidearm is just a piece of the uniform, not really different from their ticket book. I knew the department armorer from a neighboring town. He told me about the crap that many officers let slide. Still when the department issued revolvers, on guy dropped off his rig for a periodic inspection, holster and all. Upon removal of the S&W from the holster, he found a French fry stuck between the cylinder and top strap. Other stories relate to masking tape around the spare ammo, since it no longer stayed in the belt loops. Obviously from days gone by. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrumpyOne Posted December 14, 2013 Author Share Posted December 14, 2013 Not to offend LEO's...but maybe he rode a desk. Or had some duty which basically made him inert. The only reason he even had a gun is it's part of the gear. I've seen this happen. He was no desk jockey, he was driving a new county issue Chevy Tahoe, decked out with lights. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RangerTrace Posted December 14, 2013 Share Posted December 14, 2013 Obviously we would want all of our Cops to shoot like we do (or think we do), but many don't and never will. Thankfully, most will never have to either. Just the same, I'm glad they are out there roaming the roads, helping deter crime. Because, just maybe, the dirt bags aren't reading this thread and think all cops are Tactical Operators.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimmyZip Posted December 14, 2013 Share Posted December 14, 2013 (edited) I have been in and around one type of shooting sports or another for most of my life. I have found LEOs from various departments and organizations to be no better nor worse than most folks at large save for some basic firearms instructions. Let's not turn this into a bash the cops because they know little about firearms thread. I'm sure we would all like for them to be GM to the last person, but that is but a dream. To the OP, I would gather that you would not find anyone LEO, or other wise who is on this forum who could actually answer your question. This is after all a shooting sports forum . JZ Edited December 14, 2013 by JimmyZip Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gasbag Posted December 14, 2013 Share Posted December 14, 2013 I'm not a police officer but I know more than any of them could about their job <insert sarcasm smilie here>. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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