What to do when Police arrive.

[Guest db99wj]

Lets say that your neighbor called 911 and reported that you have a gun.

So for whatever reason here you are standing in your driveway with your pistol in your hand when the police drive up.

The next two minutes could change your life forever. What do you do?

Obviously you don't point it at them.

What is the proper response when the police arrive?

For those having trouble with "pistol in hand in the driveway", where is your car? Don't you have a carry permit? Do you ever go to the gun range or gun show? Some of us can even target practice in our driveway depending on where we live. Heaven help us if we scare deer out of the garden.

I have never shot anyone but I am in my driveway everyday with a gun.

Some people can rob, rape, torture, murder, mutilate and burn and they are never shot.

Why do we, as law abiding citizens, need to worry about getting shot and killed in our own yard?

I assumed by your first post that the situation was not a normal interaction, there was a heightened level of anxiety due to the type of call. I assumed that the cops are coming down the street and screeching to a halt on your front lawn and SWAT team is moving in...sorry, just watched Christmas Vacation! Anyway, no sudden movements, putting down the weapon, hands up, and complying with demands of the LEO. Like it has been and I mentioned as well, if my gun is in my hand, there is a very good reason. My handgun is 99.999999% of the time going to be holstered, so far I'm at 100% of the time it has been. If I'm coming back from the range or shooting somewhere else, I will have transferred them from Jeep to house, before the cops come anyway.

I'm probably just gonna re-holster and go talk to the folks that show up, and see if they're anybody I know. Odds are they will be.

If they wanna go stupid for some reason, I'll comply until I can get one of their sargents out here... and then the is gonna hit the fan.

Exactly, if I've broken no laws (I'm on my own property), I'm just going to holster it and ask them if I can help them. I know a bunch of them around here and they all know who I am (through my business) so I'm not worried about a "misunderstanding"

Other than the knowing them, which I could I guess, but probably not, this. I'll would have already re-holstered anyway unless the situation was different.

You painted a scenario so that there is a huge misunderstanding and a call to 911 has been made on a "man with a gun", which happens to be you, from a N'bor that doesn't know you are a N'bor, or doesn't know you other than that you are the one that lives there and the situation is not very good and until it is cleared up by the responding officers, it won't be any better. This is not a time to "exercise" your rights to the fullest extent which you are given. At the point where the authorities know what is going on and that the call was made by a dumbass, I'm complying and doing what I can in order not to get shot or killed.

If you didn't intend for these assumptions, I apologize, but your scenario wasn't really clear.

Edited to add, I agree with Dralarms and Jamie.

Edited December 26, 2010 by db99wj

[dralarms]

Other than the knowing them, which I could I guess, but probably not, this. I'll would have already re-holstered anyway unless the situation was different.

You painted a scenario so that there is a huge misunderstanding and a call to 911 has been made on a "man with a gun", which happens to be you, from a N'bor that doesn't know you are a N'bor, or doesn't know you other than that you are the one that lives there and the situation is not very good and until it is cleared up by the responding officers, it won't be any better. This is not a time to "exercise" your rights to the fullest extent which you are given. At the point where the authorities know what is going on and that the call was made by a dumbass, I'm complying and doing what I can in order not to get shot or killed.

If you didn't intend for these assumptions, I apologize, but your scenario wasn't really clear.

Ok, let me be clear on the matter, IF my neibours call the cops for a "man with a gun call" it won't be me, their call will consist of "man shooting AGAIN" to which the cops tell them it's county, unless he is hitting your house deal with it.

I was speaking in terms of I'm outside, for what ever reason, and the cops pull up while I still have a gun in my hand. No I'm not stupid, yes I will comply with the instructions of the officer, and no I won;t point the gun in their direction.

[Guest Jamie]

I'm more likely to be the one that called the police than the neighbors are... Have called them at least once while standing in the driveway with a gun, watching a strange vehicle "orbit" around, pulling into my driveway with no lights on, then driving off when I confronted them... only to circle around and set off a ways up the road.

Yeah, a strange night, that one.

Oh, and I didn't get shot, either.

[Guest KCSTEVE]

The point that I am trying to make is, unless you consider yourself one of the good old boys, how can we as gun owners project ourselves as the good guys. Should we be afraid that someone will see our gun and call SWAT? Yes, and we should prepare for this. Talking about it here is a good place to learn what to do. "How's the wife and kids?"... is not going to work for everybody. Good advise from folks that have already experienced this from both sides of the riot shotgun is what I am looking for. Experience comes right after you need it, so they say.

[Guest Jamie]

I would think a better list would be "What NOT to do when the police arrive", since there are certain things that will almost certainly set events into motion that the armed homeowner certainly won't like but also may not survive.

[mikegideon]

I would think a better list would be "What NOT to do when the police arrive", since there are certain things that will almost certainly set events into motion that the armed homeowner certainly won't like but also may not survive.

A mouth full of dirt is more likely than getting shot, unless you're just stupid enough to point your gun in their direction.

[Guest Jamie]

A mouth full of dirt is more likely than getting shot, unless you're just stupid enough to point your gun in their direction.

Depends on both the cops and what dispatch told them, along with what the "man with a gun" does or does not do. Certain combinations are lethal, even without the person pointing a gun at anybody.

Still, even a mouthful of dirt falls under the things "the homeowner certainly won't like".

[mikegideon]

Still, even a mouthful of dirt falls under the things "the homeowner certainly won't like".

Especially that cruchy dirt that's in most driveways. Yep, there's no telling what the hysterical sheeple said on the phone. That's why I'll try to make sure the gun isn't in my hand. I'm certain I wouldn't know the cops in my neighborhood.

[Guest KCSTEVE]

I would think a better list would be "What NOT to do when the police arrive", since there are certain things that will almost certainly set events into motion that the armed homeowner certainly won't like but also may not survive.

Exactly my point! I saw a commercial on TV where a man gets his gun, heads out of the bedroom and says to his wife "Call 911."

Now the responding officer is left to sort out who is who walking around the house with a gun. Does the homeowner know if the officer is dressed off duty or even undercover? You can just imagine the bad that is "fix'en" to happen.

[Guest db99wj]

Ok, let me be clear on the matter, IF my neibours call the cops for a "man with a gun call" it won't be me, their call will consist of "man shooting AGAIN" to which the cops tell them it's county, unless he is hitting your house deal with it.

I was speaking in terms of I'm outside, for what ever reason, and the cops pull up while I still have a gun in my hand. No I'm not stupid, yes I will comply with the instructions of the officer, and no I won;t point the gun in their direction.

Crap, my post was intended toward the OP's scenario. I forgot to put in the part where I quoted you and said Exactly, I agree! With Jamie also...

[Guest Jamie]

Exactly my point! I saw a commercial on TV where a man gets his gun, heads out of the bedroom and says to his wife "Call 911."

Now the responding officer is left to sort out who is who walking around the house with a gun. Does the homeowner know if the officer is dressed off duty or even undercover? You can just imagine the bad that is "fix'en" to happen.

Off-duty and plain-clothed police are NOT dispatched to calls, as a rule, and are as much of a liability as an armed resident/home owner.

There are times when they show up, for one reason or the other, but they generally know - or should - to stay out of the way and clearly identify themselves, right off, to anyone they encounter, police or otherwise.

[DaveTN]

The point that I am trying to make is, unless you consider yourself one of the good old boys, how can we as gun owners project ourselves as the good guys. Should we be afraid that someone will see our gun and call SWAT? Yes, and we should prepare for this. Talking about it here is a good place to learn what to do. "How's the wife and kids?"... is not going to work for everybody. Good advise from folks that have already experienced this from both sides of the riot shotgun is what I am looking for. Experience comes right after you need it, so they say.

Common Sense; this isn’t rocket science.

As you can see here you have the extreme from those thinking you will get shot by responding Officers to those that know both Andy and Barney personally, and will have the jobs of anyone that dare to question them.

Is there a danger? Certainly there is a danger.

Common sense tells us we can assume unless you live in Podunk Tennessee and know both of the cops that work there; you may not know the responding Officers and they may not know you. The situation and your common sense will dictate what you should do. If you should refuse to pay attention to what your common sense tells you and decide to take a stand based on some misguided information from an internet forum that you can’t be disarmed on your own property; you may well have a problem.

I worked in a city of 100,000. It didn’t matter to me if I knew the person or not; if I was dispatched to your residence on a man with a gun call, Gun Control goes into effect until I determine what’s going on. I can’t tell you how many people I have arrested because they thought they had the right to be armed standing in their living room when I had been called there on a domestic violence call. Most would simply disarm; some had to be disarmed by force. (They went to jail)

Can an innocent person get shot?

Sure they can, it happens all the time. Someone hears a noise outside grabs a gun and goes outside. Only to come face to face with cops that are responding to a burglary in progress at the house next door or chasing a suspect through a neighborhood. Two armed people, two seconds to make a decision…. Sometimes the decisions aren’t the right ones and an innocent person dies.

I have been that responding Officer that comes face to face with a resident that came outside to investigate, and I have not known who they were. Luckily they didn't shoot me and they followed my orders and everything went okay.

We see stories all the time where the wrong people get shot. We try to learn from them and have a plan.

[Guest Jamie]

Common Sense; this isn’t rocket science.

Too bad that's the most mis-named term in the english language. Because it's certainly not all that common.

As you can see here you have the extreme from those thinking you will get shot by responding Officers to those that know both Andy and Barney personally, and will have the jobs of anyone that dare to question them.[

Your wise-assed remark aside, knowing who's apt to show up at your door makes a big difference. THEM knowing who they're dealing with makes an even bigger one.

I worked in a city of 100,000.

You know you're not there anymore, right? And that things are quite a bit different in 99.9% of the places here?

[Steelharp]

Why, as a law abiding citizen, do you fear for your life when officers arrive? No laws have been broken. No one is being threatened.

For the same reason the people driving in front of me at 65 mph in a 65 mph posted zone slam to 45 when they see a police car...

[dralarms]

For the same reason the people driving in front of me at 65 mph in a 65 mph posted zone slam to 45 when they see a police car...

Don't even get me started.

If I was LE, I'd stop every one of them, just to see what they were afraid of getting caught for. Shoot, if I'm on the interstate and it a 70mph zone and I'm doing 79 (with cruise control set) and I see a cop, I ain't slowing down, ain't hitting my brakes. nada. Now if he pulls out and flips the little blue thingies on, then I'll slow down and pull into the slow lane and wait for him to pull me over.

[Guest db99wj]

Don't even get me started.

If I was LE, I'd stop every one of them, just to see what they were afraid of getting caught for. Shoot, if I'm on the interstate and it a 70mph zone and I'm doing 79 (with cruise control set) and I see a cop, I ain't slowing down, ain't hitting my brakes. nada. Now if he pulls out and flips the little blue thingies on, then I'll slow down and pull into the slow lane and wait for him to pull me over.

No kidding. If you see them, your already caught. Keep on going unless they light ya up

[Guest KCSTEVE]

Too bad that's the most mis-named term in the english language. Because it's certainly not all that common.

Your wise-assed remark aside, knowing who's apt to show up at your door makes a big difference. THEM knowing who they're dealing with makes an even bigger one.

You know you're not there anymore, right? And that things are quite a bit different in 99.9% of the places here?

"Still kind'a funny that he got a bit sensitive about it though... especially around here. :blink:". J

Funny how things come back around..

Edited December 27, 2010 by KCSTEVE

[DaveTN]

"Still kind'a funny that he got a bit sensitive about it though... especially around here. :blink:". J

Funny how things come back around..

I’m confused… Sensitive about what? What’s coming back around?

I was simply addressing the question that you asked from those with experience. Sorry I wasted my time typing out an intelligent response.

[Guest Jamie]

I’m confused… Sensitive about what? What’s coming back around?

Oh, KC's still evidently feeling the sting from something I said a while back, concerning his apparent sensitivity.

Wouldn't have thought a joke would leave such a mark, but there ya go.

[Guest KCSTEVE]

I’m confused… Sensitive about what? What’s coming back around?

I was simply addressing the question that you asked from those with experience. Sorry I wasted my time typing out an intelligent response.

Don't apologize for an intelligent response, Lord knows we need them around here.

I was only trying to have a little fun gouging Jamie for calling your comment "a wise-assed remark."

Sometimes trying to be funny, ain't so funny when somebody takes it the wrong way.

[mikegideon]

No shortage of wise asses around here

[Guest Jamie]

Dumb asses either.

( And I had much rather be the former than the latter. )

So... are we done with the sniping and other silliness yet?

[mikegideon]

Dumb asses either.

( And I had much rather be the former than the latter. )

So... are we done with the sniping and other silliness yet?

Done is a pretty strong word

[Guest KCSTEVE]

Done?....I thought he said Dumb!

[Fallguy]

If I am in my driveway with my gun "in hand" I will probably be on the phone the police as well describing whatever situation has caused me to draw my weapon.

If somehow they got their before I made such a call, since I usually pocket carry, I probably wouldn't put it back in my pocket, but lay it down and follow instructions. I would assume they received a MWG call. Because normally no one, neighbors or LEOs are going to see handgun and make a call or worry about it.

If I was just carrying (OC or printed or something like that) and a neighbor called, since I wouldn't know what is going on, I would simply follow the officer's instructions. But I doubt I would lay down or throw down as it would be in my pocket or holstered.

I have talked with LEOs on calls around my apartment complex and out and about while armed and thankfully haven't been shot yet.

Not really sure why you would be just standing around in the driveway with your handgun?