imported post
On Saturday afriend and I were travelling back from an unsuccessful day of deer hunting in Venton County. (Actually, he was hunting and I was providing security as we were on his land and there have been poaching/tresspassing problems in the past).
Bambi decided that if we didn't get her with a slug, then we should get her with an Audi. Deer flies into median, we lose a headlight. Our reaction was to a) figure out if the deer was dead (it nearly was) and b) call LEO to report the incident.
Ross Co. Sheriff's Deputy responded. When he came up behind the car, we were standing off to one side of it, my .40 in a drop holster, and his 9mm tucked into his waistband. Per the "duty to inform" wording, he tells the LEO that he has a permit and is armed. LEO asks where it is, so he tells him. LEO disarms him, unloads the pistol and hands it back to him, keeping the magazine. Check for clear and back into the waistband.LEO then turns his attention to me. I am OC in digital camo, tan drop holster. I turned to allow him to see the weapon clearly in the headlights, and told him that I was armed as well, in case he didn't notice (good practice as far as I can tell since he disarmed my friend). Same proceedure, disarm, unload, hand back, retain mag.
He then asked for DLs. This part had me worried. Although I had nothing to hide, I am without a drivers license due to an unfortunate set of circumstances. I told him that I did not have one, and he said, "OK, what's your name?" Being that he was going to process this without photo ID, I offered "Would a Military ID help?" He said it would as long as it had DOB on it, which it does.
LEOthen asked my friend, "Keys to your trunk?" *Illegal search* is what I was thinking. He asked why, and the LEO showed him the mags. Cool beans, LEO doesn't want to keep our ammo, he'd rather stash it in our trunk. We go and sit in our car. I tell the LEO that IAW OH law, I will be handing my pistol to my friend for proper transport in the car. He was OK with it.
Afew minutes laterLEO walks up to the window and hands us our IDs and my friends vehicle documents back, explains the procedure for contacting the officefor insurance claims, etc.LEO also tells us that carrying pistols while hunting is a violation of hunting regs, just for future reference. Friend tells him that we just read the regs, and there is an exemption for CCW holders. He said he'd look it up. Before he leaves, we ask if we can keep the deer and he said OK. He even helped us go back and locate the body and secure it on the trunklid.
What an outstanding LEO.
I didn't feel disrespected or intimidated by his approach or handling of anything in this incident. The disarming I can understand, after all we had the numbers on him. With the ID, I held off on offering the Mil ID as I am not required to have ID on me as a passenger. Once I realized that he wasn't going to demand ID I offered it as a courtesy. It just goes to show that mutual respect and adherence to the law is the best way to conduct business at all times. I will be calling the sheriff's office to put in a good word for this deputy, and I would encourage others to do the same any time there is a positive experience involving LEO and OC.
On Saturday afriend and I were travelling back from an unsuccessful day of deer hunting in Venton County. (Actually, he was hunting and I was providing security as we were on his land and there have been poaching/tresspassing problems in the past).
Bambi decided that if we didn't get her with a slug, then we should get her with an Audi. Deer flies into median, we lose a headlight. Our reaction was to a) figure out if the deer was dead (it nearly was) and b) call LEO to report the incident.
Ross Co. Sheriff's Deputy responded. When he came up behind the car, we were standing off to one side of it, my .40 in a drop holster, and his 9mm tucked into his waistband. Per the "duty to inform" wording, he tells the LEO that he has a permit and is armed. LEO asks where it is, so he tells him. LEO disarms him, unloads the pistol and hands it back to him, keeping the magazine. Check for clear and back into the waistband.LEO then turns his attention to me. I am OC in digital camo, tan drop holster. I turned to allow him to see the weapon clearly in the headlights, and told him that I was armed as well, in case he didn't notice (good practice as far as I can tell since he disarmed my friend). Same proceedure, disarm, unload, hand back, retain mag.
He then asked for DLs. This part had me worried. Although I had nothing to hide, I am without a drivers license due to an unfortunate set of circumstances. I told him that I did not have one, and he said, "OK, what's your name?" Being that he was going to process this without photo ID, I offered "Would a Military ID help?" He said it would as long as it had DOB on it, which it does.
LEOthen asked my friend, "Keys to your trunk?" *Illegal search* is what I was thinking. He asked why, and the LEO showed him the mags. Cool beans, LEO doesn't want to keep our ammo, he'd rather stash it in our trunk. We go and sit in our car. I tell the LEO that IAW OH law, I will be handing my pistol to my friend for proper transport in the car. He was OK with it.
Afew minutes laterLEO walks up to the window and hands us our IDs and my friends vehicle documents back, explains the procedure for contacting the officefor insurance claims, etc.LEO also tells us that carrying pistols while hunting is a violation of hunting regs, just for future reference. Friend tells him that we just read the regs, and there is an exemption for CCW holders. He said he'd look it up. Before he leaves, we ask if we can keep the deer and he said OK. He even helped us go back and locate the body and secure it on the trunklid.
What an outstanding LEO.
I didn't feel disrespected or intimidated by his approach or handling of anything in this incident. The disarming I can understand, after all we had the numbers on him. With the ID, I held off on offering the Mil ID as I am not required to have ID on me as a passenger. Once I realized that he wasn't going to demand ID I offered it as a courtesy. It just goes to show that mutual respect and adherence to the law is the best way to conduct business at all times. I will be calling the sheriff's office to put in a good word for this deputy, and I would encourage others to do the same any time there is a positive experience involving LEO and OC.
