Editor’s Note: This week’s PoliceOne First Person essay is from PoliceOne Member Vance Rosen, who writes about why he will never be caught without a gun again. In PoliceOne “First Person” essays, our Members and Columnists candidly share their own unique view of the world. This is a platform from which individual officers can share their own personal insights on issues confronting cops today, as well as opinions, observations, and advice on living life behind the thin blue line. If you want to share your own perspective with other P1 Members, simply send us an e-mail with your story.
By Lt. Vance “Fox” Rosen
Police1 Member
I am amazed by the number of officers, deputies and other law enforcement personnel in this great nation who, when asked if they carry a weapon off duty respond with, “No, when I’m off, I’m off.”
The next question I ask them is, “Do you carry your badge off duty?”
Guess what? Most say, “Yeah, it’s in my wallet.”
Why carry the one without the other? I think Police1 readers are smart enough to realize why having a badge might at times be an advantage. I make no statement as to whether it is right or wrong. I just point out facts.
I understand their statement, and I agree with them as far as taking deliberate police action in an “off duty” status.
But what about when we witness a violent felony in an off duty status and we can’t intervene because we don’t have our weapon? I usually get the theory that “Well, I don’t go to dangerous places and I lead a low risk personal life.” Bravo Sierra. The world is a dangerous place kiddos and no matter how situationally aware you are, the bad men come out when and where we don’t expect them to.
Like while waiting in line to pay for a candy bar at the corner store.
I would hate to think that a clerk I’ve known for years got smoked because it was too much trouble to strap on my piece before I left the house. And this is the GOOD scenario. How much worse would it be if we or a loved one were the one who was killed because we COULDN’T act?
True story time. Many years ago, I gave a guy what we call the “government-rate night in the county hotel” for a simple shoplifting.
Of course, he made bond before the ink was dry on my report. Two days later I was off and had my (then) baby daughter with me. I ran into the store to get buy my wife (who is awesome by the way) a Christmas present as that particular holiday was only days away. I had my gun secured in my truck, but for whatever stupid reason I left it there and went into the store.
I put my daughter in a cart and we walked around the store looking for a gift. Several minutes into our shopping, I turn a corner and come face to face with guess who.
He looks at me and smiles. I look at him and smile. I remember him. I move past him and keep my eyes on his hands. Not being one to run away, I continue my shopping (that was stupid, I know I should have left). I continue down a hardware aisle and at the other end is Mr. Friendly, now with two of his buddies, and they are looking around for cameras. I grabbed a framing hammer and gave them all my best “Dirty Harry” look as I backed out of the aisle.
I’d now had enough and took my daughter and left.
What if they had been armed and decided to make an issue out of the encounter? There I am with a hammer in a gun fight, WITH MY KID!
If that guy wanted me, he had me. After what happened to me in that store all those years ago, I will never be caught without a gun again.
To this day, I have never made that mistake again. If you see me, and I am conscious, I have a gun on me.
This comes with some sacrifices. I am ALWAYS the designated driver because I am ALWAYS armed which means I don’t drink in public. My family and I don’t go to certain places that don’t allow firearms on private property (such as amusement parks and certain museums).
“So Fox, you don’t fly or take cruises or anything?” Yes I do those things and of course I can’t take guns on a cruise ship. But I can and do use improvised weapons when I am out of the country. I won’t get into the how’s in this setting so don’t ask.
What I want to impress upon you all here is that you have the authority to carry guns as law enforcement officers in many places where the citizenry cannot, but that doesn’t mean they don’t.
We all know firearms laws make us safer right? I mean the law says you can’t have a gun at a public gathering so no one has one, right? C’mon guys and gals. Don’t be the one person who can legally carry a gun at a place when someone who doesn’t care about the law decides to shoot it up.
I won’t drag this out painfully. There are bad guys out there. Many of them will try to settle a score with you if they meet you out and the opportunity presents itself. If they think they can take you and get away with it, they’ll try. Wouldn’t you?
If you carry a badge, carry a gun. If you want to carry a badge without a gun, the first stop you should make after leaving the house is your Chief or Sheriff’s office to turn in your badge.
Stay safe. We need you out there.
