I took my family to Jim's Gun and Pawn gun range in Fayetteville last Wed to teach my parents how to shoot their new pistols and also let my wife practice with my G27 and XDm .45 Compact. Anyway, after we were finished, I reloaded my XDm with my carry rounds, and placed it strong side, in the paddle holster that came with it. I would prefer to have a properly fitting SERPA, but apparently they don't make one specific to my weapon. I have one for an XD .45 mounted in my car, but it's loose, so I just carry in the holster that came with the gun. Anyway, sorry for the ADD tangent.
Well, on the way home, we stopped at a gas station on 401 just past the Walmart near Cliffdale I believe. My wife needed to use the restroom and I needed to get some waters because we were all parched after shooting for an hour and a half in the stuffy indoor range on a hot day. Walked in, and went to the water cooler, and noticed a Fayetteville Police officer standing at the counter chatting with the cashier. My wife had just walked right past him to get to the restroom. I looked at him, smiled and said, "Hey, how's it going? Been busy?" You know, cordial greeting, small chit chat. I made sure my strong side was toward him so it was clear I wasn't trying to be sneaky or hide it. He responded in kind, and I saw him glance down at my hip, noticing my sidearm. While it appeared he didn't much care for it with the short, almost brushoff response I got in return, I have to give props to him for not overstepping his role and questioning me about why I was carrying. A good thing too, since I wasn't wearing my digital recorder.
I was wearing a pair of camo cargo shorts and a t-shirt, and probably didn't look too clean after almost two hours of sweatting in the range. Arms had unburnt powder flakes, and the right side of my neck had a popped burn blister where an ejected .45 case kissed it after bouncing off the lane divider. Man those things get hot!
Anyway, overall positive encounter, even if the officer wasn't the most friendly. At least he was professional, and didn't make an issue of me carrying.