Pulling forward after a cop has already stopped you is not a good idea.

" He said he pulled into a shoulder, but offered to move the car forward because there was not much room next to the driver door for Gelhaus.

When the car started moving, Gelhaus is alleged to have drawn his gun."

 

Its not very uncommon especially at night for an officer to pull out a firearm walking to a car!

 

Its not very uncommon especially at night for an officer to pull out a firearm walking to a car!

What? ;joint

 

Its not very uncommon especially at night for an officer to pull out a firearm walking to a car!

I have been stopping cars 21 years and I rarely pull out my pistol.

 

What a poorly written article. No details on the shooting of the toy-gun suspect and not much detail on even the traffic stop. No factual basis for one incident being related to the other. From the tiny picture of the toy AK rifle, it appears that someone could mistake it for a real rifle, especially at some distance or in the dark. Who knows what the circumstances were in the shooting?

 

I have been stopping cars 21 years and I RARELY pull out my pistol.

If the vibes are wrong you have done so?

 

If the vibes are wrong you have done so?

Of course, but every traffic stop doesn't require a pistol to be pulled. And if the 'vibe is wrong' why not make the driver come to you? They're called high risk stops for a reason and there is a way to deal with them. The "officer safety" mantra can't be used for every stop. Drawing a weapon unnecessarily puts more stress into a situation that is not needed, especially when most traffic stops are routine. So, drawing a weapon on them should be uncommon.

I have seen & participated in thousands of traffic stops and, IME, a LEO drawing their pistol is uncommon.

 

In this case, it wasn't just drawing the weapon, the Deputy Gelhaus apparently pointed it at the driver. Further, his behavior caused the driver to ask: 'Sir, is there something wrong with you?'

Same officer unloads 7 rounds into the kid with the toy gun while his partner doesn't shoot at all.

 

Perception of threats is a very unique and strange subject to study and try to understand....what I perceive as threatening might not appear to be threatening to somebody else...what my wife sees as a threat I may not due to being male or having training under my belt.

Gelhaus may have seen the weapon immediately while his partner's field of view was obstructed by his patrol car......trees...angle of his perception.....the pattern of shading created by blue lights or street lights....He may have been looking down at this notebook to take down information.....turning his head to talk into his lapel microphone.

If you perceive something as a threat to you....and I come along and say it wasn't a threat to you then who is correct?

 

Perception of threats is a very unique and strange subject to study and try to understand....what I perceive as threatening might not appear to be threatening to somebody else...what my wife sees as a threat I may not due to being male or having training under my belt.

Gelhaus may have seen the weapon immediately while his partner's field of view was obstructed by his patrol car......trees...angle of his perception.....the pattern of shading created by blue lights or street lights....He may have been looking down at this notebook to take down information.....turning his head to talk into his lapel microphone.

If you perceive something as a threat to you....and I come along and say it wasn't a threat to you then who is correct?

Good points. Perception of threats is also colored by how one views their role. A LEO who views his job as akin to that of a soldier in a war zone is probably going to perceive threats differently than a LEO who does not see his role that way.

 

Its not very uncommon especially at night for an officer to pull out a firearm walking to a car!

If he is that afraid he needs another job. If I was the one being stopped I would be afraid because I would wonder what that crazy, scared idiot was going to do next. Larry

 

.^^^..some people say the similar things about those of us that carry concealed...................

 

If I have a car pulled over, and as I approach the driver, he starts taking off with the car, I'm gonna perceive that as some sort of an evasive maneuver and a possible threat, of course I am going to draw. If you are pulled over and the officer is walking up to you, make sure you are in park, and don't try to pull your car forward.

 

Keefus what I am saying is if you perceive a threat or just cant see well some guys pull and put behind their leg. Night stops are more dangerous because of not being able to see as easy. Every officer does it different and perceive things differently. Your way may not be everyone elses way but you made good points.

 

.^^^..some people say the similar things about those of us that carry concealed...................

There is a big difference between someone walking up to you with a gun in the holster or pulling the gun out of the holster and having it in their hand. Of course, arrogant, overbearing, bullying cops think they have the right to do as they please. I still say if they are afraid to walk up to people with out a gun in their hand they need another job. Larry

 

Is it my imagination or have I read about cops in n c being shot during routine traffic stops?




What you think is not so important as what you do.


RichardB

 

Yet another example of why I oppose different, special, rules allowing cops to be armed when the rest of us mere peons can't.

 

Poor you! I have a gun.

What you think is not so important as what you do.


RichardB

 

Poor you! I have a gun.

You must be special!