Michigander
Regular Member
imported post
Talked for about 10 minutes, definitely a good conversation.
I would describe his tone as fairly apologetic about what happened. He wanted it known that he is very pro gun, "philosophically in line with what we are doing". He told me about how they have gone extra steps to make it easier to get CPL's in Oakland County, and how he is a very strong supporter of gun rights when the media contacts him.
He said that this incident is being used to create a training procedure that will be instituted through the entire department. This will include when you can demand ID/CPL, as well as the other obvious things that will need to be taught.
It sounds like what happened is being taken very seriously by Sheriff Bouchard and others there. He basically stated that because it's so uncommon to see open carrying, the deputies there were regrettably caught off guard. He also noted that from the tone of the one particular deputy, that they might have to talk to her about how she interacts with people.
I told him about how in another incident with MOC, an officer was visibly shaking when he interacted with us, and how I understood that not knowing what people with guns were doing could be downright terrifying to a police officer, and I wanted to make it clear that we mean no offense or harm to police or anyone else. He seemed to agree and understand.
I think it's important to stress that we both totally agreed that we don't want animosity between MOC and the OCSD. He said that any time that we have questions or concerns, to please call him. I would go so far as to say that in the future, if a local department in Oakland county detains or otherwise harasses an open carrier (or a group of them), that the Oakland County Sheriff's Department should be called to help resolve the problem.
This promises to have some what of a ripple effect of police in Oakland County talking to each other in the coming weeks and months, causing it to be all the less likely that we'll be detained needlessly in this area.
One last important thing to mention is that he told me that it wasn't an off duty Troy officer that called, rather it was a Boston Market employee. I believe this is significant, because it is the first time I can recall having a non government worker call the cops on someone in Michigan for open carrying.
A conclusion that some will doubtlessly come to, and perhaps accurately, is that they are being apologetic because some of the things they did were clearly actionable. Whether this is the case or not is immaterial, as long as the result we seem to have reached has been reached.
I, for one, am very appreciative of the steps that Sheriff Bouchard has promised to make.
Talked for about 10 minutes, definitely a good conversation.
I would describe his tone as fairly apologetic about what happened. He wanted it known that he is very pro gun, "philosophically in line with what we are doing". He told me about how they have gone extra steps to make it easier to get CPL's in Oakland County, and how he is a very strong supporter of gun rights when the media contacts him.
He said that this incident is being used to create a training procedure that will be instituted through the entire department. This will include when you can demand ID/CPL, as well as the other obvious things that will need to be taught.
It sounds like what happened is being taken very seriously by Sheriff Bouchard and others there. He basically stated that because it's so uncommon to see open carrying, the deputies there were regrettably caught off guard. He also noted that from the tone of the one particular deputy, that they might have to talk to her about how she interacts with people.
I told him about how in another incident with MOC, an officer was visibly shaking when he interacted with us, and how I understood that not knowing what people with guns were doing could be downright terrifying to a police officer, and I wanted to make it clear that we mean no offense or harm to police or anyone else. He seemed to agree and understand.
I think it's important to stress that we both totally agreed that we don't want animosity between MOC and the OCSD. He said that any time that we have questions or concerns, to please call him. I would go so far as to say that in the future, if a local department in Oakland county detains or otherwise harasses an open carrier (or a group of them), that the Oakland County Sheriff's Department should be called to help resolve the problem.
This promises to have some what of a ripple effect of police in Oakland County talking to each other in the coming weeks and months, causing it to be all the less likely that we'll be detained needlessly in this area.
One last important thing to mention is that he told me that it wasn't an off duty Troy officer that called, rather it was a Boston Market employee. I believe this is significant, because it is the first time I can recall having a non government worker call the cops on someone in Michigan for open carrying.
A conclusion that some will doubtlessly come to, and perhaps accurately, is that they are being apologetic because some of the things they did were clearly actionable. Whether this is the case or not is immaterial, as long as the result we seem to have reached has been reached.
I, for one, am very appreciative of the steps that Sheriff Bouchard has promised to make.
