off duty carry rules by your dep't? - XDTalk Forums - Your HS2000/SA-XD Information Source!

mst3kguy · 01-31-2006, 04:49 PM

with the legal ability to now carry off duty except federal buildings, i was curious. do any of your departments have any stipulations as to what you must do (such as how you must carry (type of holster, where on your body; what, if anything else, you must have with you) if you choose to carry off duty? the question was raised in our department if, when we're carrying off duty, if we should also have to carry our pepper spray, the argument being we would still be exercising levels of force, being able to transition to less than lethal use of force, just as when we're on duty. i thought it was pretty crazy to force us to carry our pepper spray any time we want to carry our weapon off duty, so was just curious if any departments have any rules. a friend of mine, working in a larger city police department, advised his department requires them to carry off duty at all times. i don't know if i'd want that, either...

dean
cincinnati
xd40service
xd9sc

Mike TRT · 01-31-2006, 07:11 PM

our policy is pretty simple.....any "quality named firearm" .380 or larger caliber.......depending where I am and what Im doing, the only other piece of LE gear I will carry is a set of cuffs.......(and not as often as I should).

cydekar · 02-03-2006, 05:02 PM

register/ inspection by Firearm Instructor, qualify with it, not a scored course more of a go/ no go deal, and have your ID on you when carrying, badge, dept and state cards

jnc36rcpd · 02-04-2006, 07:52 AM

We require that off-duty officers have their credentials with them when carrying a weapon. While I certainly encourage off duty officers to have other options available, it's simply not practical for the majority of officers wearing civilian attire.

Training in off duty survival tactics should address when an officer should take police action. To some extent, this reduces the pillow-biting over an off-duty officer not having a full range of less-lethal options. In most circumstances, off duty officers should respond only in live-threatening circumstances. They should not be breaking up fistfights or quelling disturbances. (There are, of course, many exceptions to that general rule.)

Of course, your command staff may still be anxious that they might be criticized if an off duty officer does not have a less-lethal option. An alternative approach might be to require carry of a keychain-size OC when carrying a weapon. These sprays do not have great range, but the boss' concern is probably liability/publicity based rather than any concern about cops getting hurt.

Our new policy requires that off-duty holsters be approved by the firearms training cadre. We require that the holster retain the weapon through some means which can include a friction fit. We also want holsters that allow one-handed reholstering and which are securely attached to the officer. Officers may not carry a weapon without a holster.

Due to our size, we can move quickly in approving holsters. If an officer comes in with a quality holster not on the approved list, we can quickly inspect the holster and include it. (To a lesser extent, we can do this with firearms.) Since the regulation just went into effect, we do not currently have an approved holster list.

I myself carry a pistol and handcuffs when off duty. I usually have a Surefire E2E. If I'm wearing a jacket, there's usually a spare magazine and OC spray in the pockets.

Slotback · 02-05-2006, 09:13 AM

Our policy is basically: "have a gun with you, unless it's unreasonable." Basically meaning that if you're lifting weights or something ok. But if you go to the mall, have your cell phone, pistol and cuffs.

01-31-2006, 04:49 PM	#1
mst3kguy XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 375	off duty carry rules by your dep't? with the legal ability to now carry off duty except federal buildings, i was curious. do any of your departments have any stipulations as to what you must do (such as how you must carry (type of holster, where on your body; what, if anything else, you must have with you) if you choose to carry off duty? the question was raised in our department if, when we're carrying off duty, if we should also have to carry our pepper spray, the argument being we would still be exercising levels of force, being able to transition to less than lethal use of force, just as when we're on duty. i thought it was pretty crazy to force us to carry our pepper spray any time we want to carry our weapon off duty, so was just curious if any departments have any rules. a friend of mine, working in a larger city police department, advised his department requires them to carry off duty at all times. i don't know if i'd want that, either... dean cincinnati xd40service xd9sc __________________ The fact that you've got "Replica" written down the side of your gun. And the fact that I've got "Desert Eagle point 5 0" written on the side of mine, should precipitate your balls into shrinking, along with your presence.-Bullet Tooth Tony

01-31-2006, 07:11 PM	#2
Mike TRT XDTalk 1K Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Chicagoland Posts: 1,376	our policy is pretty simple.....any "quality named firearm" .380 or larger caliber.......depending where I am and what Im doing, the only other piece of LE gear I will carry is a set of cuffs.......(and not as often as I should). __________________ \"There is no hunting like the hunting of a man. And those who have hunted men long enough and liked it never cared for anything else thereafter.\"

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02-03-2006, 05:02 PM	#3
cydekar XDTalk Newbie Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: north west PA Posts: 11	register/ inspection by Firearm Instructor, qualify with it, not a scored course more of a go/ no go deal, and have your ID on you when carrying, badge, dept and state cards

02-04-2006, 07:52 AM	#4
jnc36rcpd XDTalk Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 40	We require that off-duty officers have their credentials with them when carrying a weapon. While I certainly encourage off duty officers to have other options available, it's simply not practical for the majority of officers wearing civilian attire. Training in off duty survival tactics should address when an officer should take police action. To some extent, this reduces the pillow-biting over an off-duty officer not having a full range of less-lethal options. In most circumstances, off duty officers should respond only in live-threatening circumstances. They should not be breaking up fistfights or quelling disturbances. (There are, of course, many exceptions to that general rule.) Of course, your command staff may still be anxious that they might be criticized if an off duty officer does not have a less-lethal option. An alternative approach might be to require carry of a keychain-size OC when carrying a weapon. These sprays do not have great range, but the boss' concern is probably liability/publicity based rather than any concern about cops getting hurt. Our new policy requires that off-duty holsters be approved by the firearms training cadre. We require that the holster retain the weapon through some means which can include a friction fit. We also want holsters that allow one-handed reholstering and which are securely attached to the officer. Officers may not carry a weapon without a holster. Due to our size, we can move quickly in approving holsters. If an officer comes in with a quality holster not on the approved list, we can quickly inspect the holster and include it. (To a lesser extent, we can do this with firearms.) Since the regulation just went into effect, we do not currently have an approved holster list. I myself carry a pistol and handcuffs when off duty. I usually have a Surefire E2E. If I'm wearing a jacket, there's usually a spare magazine and OC spray in the pockets.

02-05-2006, 09:13 AM	#5
Slotback XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 120	Our policy is basically: "have a gun with you, unless it's unreasonable." Basically meaning that if you're lifting weights or something ok. But if you go to the mall, have your cell phone, pistol and cuffs.