I recently attended a three day firearms instructor training update at another city within my state. This training is presented each year by the firearms instructor association to which I belong. One of the motels there had been selected by the association as the spot to conduct our business meeting, etc.
Needless to say, there were a lot of police officers registered at his motel, which is a large facility. I took my wife along on this trip and as we were checking in, I noticed several officers enter the lobby. I immediately noticed that they were officers, not because they were familiar to me, but because they clearly made no effort to conceal their profession. They had holstered guns and badges on their hips in plain view for all to see. No effort was made to conceal their hardware with a shirt or jacket.
My immediate reaction was that these guys were badge heavy hotdogs trying to send a message to anyone within sight. My wife felt the same way. I was frankly embarrassed for them as I watched several citizens in the lobby stare at these individuals and comment among themselves. I don't know what was said but I can imagine.
My department requires that an off duty officer carry his or her gun and badge, however it must be concealed sufficiently to avoid unduly alarming the public. In addition, anyone with common sense would realize that should an off duty officer encounter some individual who doesn't particularly care for cops and decides to do something about it, the officer probably does not have communication capability i.e., portable radio to summon backup, assuming he is in his own jurisdiction to begin with, and I would assume he is not wearing his ballistic vest either.
These thoughts lead me back to the assumption that these guys were hotdogs who either had no clue as to what the reaction was around them, or did it with that very intention in mind.
The association publishes a quarterly newsletter and I plan to submit an article to the editor for inclusion in the next issue.
Now for the question;
Am I way out of line here, or does anyone else feel as I do?
Needless to say, there were a lot of police officers registered at his motel, which is a large facility. I took my wife along on this trip and as we were checking in, I noticed several officers enter the lobby. I immediately noticed that they were officers, not because they were familiar to me, but because they clearly made no effort to conceal their profession. They had holstered guns and badges on their hips in plain view for all to see. No effort was made to conceal their hardware with a shirt or jacket.
My immediate reaction was that these guys were badge heavy hotdogs trying to send a message to anyone within sight. My wife felt the same way. I was frankly embarrassed for them as I watched several citizens in the lobby stare at these individuals and comment among themselves. I don't know what was said but I can imagine.
My department requires that an off duty officer carry his or her gun and badge, however it must be concealed sufficiently to avoid unduly alarming the public. In addition, anyone with common sense would realize that should an off duty officer encounter some individual who doesn't particularly care for cops and decides to do something about it, the officer probably does not have communication capability i.e., portable radio to summon backup, assuming he is in his own jurisdiction to begin with, and I would assume he is not wearing his ballistic vest either.
These thoughts lead me back to the assumption that these guys were hotdogs who either had no clue as to what the reaction was around them, or did it with that very intention in mind.
The association publishes a quarterly newsletter and I plan to submit an article to the editor for inclusion in the next issue.
Now for the question;
Am I way out of line here, or does anyone else feel as I do?