imported post
Please let me state up front that this is not LEO bashing. A vast majority of my contact with Chesterfield police officers have been positive. All previous contacts have ended well or were non-events.
It had to happen someday though and it did in a rather unique way. I stopped at Food Lion where I have shopped at the same location for over 25 years - before it was even Food Lion and yes I was OCing as always.
The night manager who knows me by sight called me over as I entered (after 9 PM) and asked me if I was a LEO. Then he asked if I had a permit for that. I expained that none was required in Virginia and gave him an OCDO info card. He looked at it and said fine but he had been advised that carrying that way was illegal in Virginia.
After a few more minutes of conversation where he assured me he was not asking me to leave if OC was legal, I suggested that he call the Chesterfield PD non-emergency number. Imagine my shock when, another manager came back from the phone and informed me that "a woman" from CPD had told him that it was indeed illegal!
We agreed to call back and make sure that we got an officer and not a dispatcher. We in fact were connected to the front desk and Officer Xxx. The manager spoke to him first and it was obvious that he was getting the same information as before. I spoke to this officer who tried to explain to me that the store could ask me to leave if they wanted to. Exasperation! I patiently told him that was not the question - the only question was regarding the legality of open carrying a firearm in Virginia.
Could not believe my own ears at what I heard next! It is not legal in Chesterfield County I was told - the county has an ordinance against that. I asked to speak to his supervisor , someone familiar with state preemption. When I heard that no supervisor was available to speak to me right then, I asked if I drove up to the county complex and waited until one was available, would they talk to me then? His response - if you do so you'll be arrested on the spot.
In hind sight that may have been the best thing I could have done but instead I requested an officer at Food Lion. You would have thought that if there had been a real problem, one would have been sent without my even mentioning it. Went outside to wait for the officer. After half an hour, I went in Pino's where I suspected that several officers were eating - there were two CPD cruisers parked in front.
I spoke to Officer People and a second officer with him. They said that they had heard the radio traffic and after hearing my brief explanation, they said I was legal and good to go. Talked at length with Food Lion mgr. re this conversation - his dilemma was that he didn't hear it from Officer People and had been told personally by Officer Xxx that it OC was illegal in Chesterfield County.
Back home after 10:30 - tired and hungry - called Officer Xxx to ask him his first name and badge number. He asked if I was going to file a formal complaint as he had checked the cite after we talked and he was wrong and even apologized. I said that I would not file a complaint if I received a letter with a copy to Food Lion correcting the faulty information as this would clear the way for me to shop there again. He said the only thing he would do was offer a verbal apology to me - "good bye" - and hung up on me!
Next day called the Police Chief (out of town), referred to the Uniform Commander (gone for the day) and to a Sgt who called me back, listened and took notes - said he'd get back to me. He did on Tuesday evening and informed me that after Officer Xxx had talked to me the last time Sunday evening that he (Officer Xxx) had called Food Lion and talked to the mgr in question and straightened everything out.
OK - so I'm back to Food Lion to see the mgr - and no he hadn't talked to anybody from Chesterfield PD. Checked with the mgr tonight (Wed) just to make sure. BTW - yes I am OCing each and every time. No he hadn't heard or talked to any officer regarding the situation. Is Chesterfield PD trying to sweep this aside - I honestly don't know but we will find out.
Now the punch line not previously mentioned - this was the first opportunity to use my new digital recorder and did it do it's job! Yes I am filing a formal complaint against Officer Xxx and a nice letter of commendation for a very professional Officer People.
When and if I get a response from Chesterfield, I will advise here.
BTW - problem solved with Food Lion after meeting with the day mgr through an extremely competant spokesperson/advocate.
Day mgr, was very cordial and understood Va. gun laws very well and yes I was welcome to continue shopping there.
Yata hey edited for typos
Please let me state up front that this is not LEO bashing. A vast majority of my contact with Chesterfield police officers have been positive. All previous contacts have ended well or were non-events.
It had to happen someday though and it did in a rather unique way. I stopped at Food Lion where I have shopped at the same location for over 25 years - before it was even Food Lion and yes I was OCing as always.
The night manager who knows me by sight called me over as I entered (after 9 PM) and asked me if I was a LEO. Then he asked if I had a permit for that. I expained that none was required in Virginia and gave him an OCDO info card. He looked at it and said fine but he had been advised that carrying that way was illegal in Virginia.
After a few more minutes of conversation where he assured me he was not asking me to leave if OC was legal, I suggested that he call the Chesterfield PD non-emergency number. Imagine my shock when, another manager came back from the phone and informed me that "a woman" from CPD had told him that it was indeed illegal!
We agreed to call back and make sure that we got an officer and not a dispatcher. We in fact were connected to the front desk and Officer Xxx. The manager spoke to him first and it was obvious that he was getting the same information as before. I spoke to this officer who tried to explain to me that the store could ask me to leave if they wanted to. Exasperation! I patiently told him that was not the question - the only question was regarding the legality of open carrying a firearm in Virginia.
Could not believe my own ears at what I heard next! It is not legal in Chesterfield County I was told - the county has an ordinance against that. I asked to speak to his supervisor , someone familiar with state preemption. When I heard that no supervisor was available to speak to me right then, I asked if I drove up to the county complex and waited until one was available, would they talk to me then? His response - if you do so you'll be arrested on the spot.
In hind sight that may have been the best thing I could have done but instead I requested an officer at Food Lion. You would have thought that if there had been a real problem, one would have been sent without my even mentioning it. Went outside to wait for the officer. After half an hour, I went in Pino's where I suspected that several officers were eating - there were two CPD cruisers parked in front.
I spoke to Officer People and a second officer with him. They said that they had heard the radio traffic and after hearing my brief explanation, they said I was legal and good to go. Talked at length with Food Lion mgr. re this conversation - his dilemma was that he didn't hear it from Officer People and had been told personally by Officer Xxx that it OC was illegal in Chesterfield County.
Back home after 10:30 - tired and hungry - called Officer Xxx to ask him his first name and badge number. He asked if I was going to file a formal complaint as he had checked the cite after we talked and he was wrong and even apologized. I said that I would not file a complaint if I received a letter with a copy to Food Lion correcting the faulty information as this would clear the way for me to shop there again. He said the only thing he would do was offer a verbal apology to me - "good bye" - and hung up on me!
Next day called the Police Chief (out of town), referred to the Uniform Commander (gone for the day) and to a Sgt who called me back, listened and took notes - said he'd get back to me. He did on Tuesday evening and informed me that after Officer Xxx had talked to me the last time Sunday evening that he (Officer Xxx) had called Food Lion and talked to the mgr in question and straightened everything out.
OK - so I'm back to Food Lion to see the mgr - and no he hadn't talked to anybody from Chesterfield PD. Checked with the mgr tonight (Wed) just to make sure. BTW - yes I am OCing each and every time. No he hadn't heard or talked to any officer regarding the situation. Is Chesterfield PD trying to sweep this aside - I honestly don't know but we will find out.
Now the punch line not previously mentioned - this was the first opportunity to use my new digital recorder and did it do it's job! Yes I am filing a formal complaint against Officer Xxx and a nice letter of commendation for a very professional Officer People.
When and if I get a response from Chesterfield, I will advise here.
BTW - problem solved with Food Lion after meeting with the day mgr through an extremely competant spokesperson/advocate.
Day mgr, was very cordial and understood Va. gun laws very well and yes I was welcome to continue shopping there.Yata hey edited for typos
