The thing you have to remember is that people and I mean anybody can be purely STUPID. Yea that means cops too. Stumbling drooling stupid and I truly mean that.
I once had a biker with his wife in a car who came back NCIC "armed / Dangerous. What a moose 6'7 300 lbs pure muscle with all the tats to go with it. I went up to the car gun behind my back and told him I wanted ID. What does he do but dive right under the seat as I jam a 23 Glock right into his collar bone. So what does he do but look up at me with a smile and say "oh excuse me " and out comes his wallet in his hand from under the seat. Long story short I cuffed him up and frisked his pissed off old lady then ended up letting him go because someone typoed the entry and this guy was just a suspect but no warrants or A/D. Duhhhhhh!
Another time it's about half hour pre sunrise at the same small border port. I hear a small sound outside and peek out to see someone had snuck in and parked way up in the corner of the parking lot and was slowly walking towards the door. I wonder who this could be dropping by in the wee hours then I see it. Big chunk of stainless in his right hand, just a glint of it off the parking lot lights that carried to the parking lot. Wow, I catch a brick piece of the door frame and pull my glock and holler at the guy asking him what he wants. " I got something I have to give YOU. Oh I guess you don't know me, I'm deputy -CENSORED--CENSORED--CENSORED--CENSORED-head from downstate. I leave my 45 here when I go to my camp in Canada." This wasn't long after Oklahoma City either. In the end I tell him to put that thing away and I swear he almost looked like I hurt his feelings. Can you imagine? I asked him what in hell he was thinking and it didn't seem to register too well. That from a cop no less.
The point of all this is that you just can't ever feel confident that ANYBODY will do the sensible thing and yes that Homer Simpson could be you. People are strange and far more unpredictable than sharks and bears. That's why I always practiced keeping that booger picker up against the inside of the back strap when I pull my gun. It's just cheap insurance against AD's when using something like a Glock or similar.
What can Joe Anybody do to avoid these things? Keep those mits up on the steering wheel or vicinity. Don't do anything fast like dive under a seat or into a glove box. Just keep still with those hands where the cop can see them and do what he says , also stay in the car unless and until they tell you to get out and do everything at a regular pace . Then stand there till they tell you otherwise preferably with hands in full sight.
As a cop, well just expect the unexpected and try to take advantage of whatever cover is available. Use those take down lights most every dept has now days. That blinding light keeps them from seeing you well. Take a second to read the people. What are they doing, what aren't they doing, where are they looking. You can learn a lot in just a few seconds if you are looking. Stay tight to the car if there is only one in there. He can't snap off a shot without pointing it right past his own face if he gets froggy which slows him down a lot. I always liked to rest my hands on my gun and belt like some stereotypical cowboy. It's comfortable and you are already half way there
if you need to pull it. Beyond that be careful and ready for anything.
I once had a biker with his wife in a car who came back NCIC "armed / Dangerous. What a moose 6'7 300 lbs pure muscle with all the tats to go with it. I went up to the car gun behind my back and told him I wanted ID. What does he do but dive right under the seat as I jam a 23 Glock right into his collar bone. So what does he do but look up at me with a smile and say "oh excuse me " and out comes his wallet in his hand from under the seat. Long story short I cuffed him up and frisked his pissed off old lady then ended up letting him go because someone typoed the entry and this guy was just a suspect but no warrants or A/D. Duhhhhhh!
Another time it's about half hour pre sunrise at the same small border port. I hear a small sound outside and peek out to see someone had snuck in and parked way up in the corner of the parking lot and was slowly walking towards the door. I wonder who this could be dropping by in the wee hours then I see it. Big chunk of stainless in his right hand, just a glint of it off the parking lot lights that carried to the parking lot. Wow, I catch a brick piece of the door frame and pull my glock and holler at the guy asking him what he wants. " I got something I have to give YOU. Oh I guess you don't know me, I'm deputy -CENSORED--CENSORED--CENSORED--CENSORED-head from downstate. I leave my 45 here when I go to my camp in Canada." This wasn't long after Oklahoma City either. In the end I tell him to put that thing away and I swear he almost looked like I hurt his feelings. Can you imagine? I asked him what in hell he was thinking and it didn't seem to register too well. That from a cop no less.
The point of all this is that you just can't ever feel confident that ANYBODY will do the sensible thing and yes that Homer Simpson could be you. People are strange and far more unpredictable than sharks and bears. That's why I always practiced keeping that booger picker up against the inside of the back strap when I pull my gun. It's just cheap insurance against AD's when using something like a Glock or similar.
What can Joe Anybody do to avoid these things? Keep those mits up on the steering wheel or vicinity. Don't do anything fast like dive under a seat or into a glove box. Just keep still with those hands where the cop can see them and do what he says , also stay in the car unless and until they tell you to get out and do everything at a regular pace . Then stand there till they tell you otherwise preferably with hands in full sight.
As a cop, well just expect the unexpected and try to take advantage of whatever cover is available. Use those take down lights most every dept has now days. That blinding light keeps them from seeing you well. Take a second to read the people. What are they doing, what aren't they doing, where are they looking. You can learn a lot in just a few seconds if you are looking. Stay tight to the car if there is only one in there. He can't snap off a shot without pointing it right past his own face if he gets froggy which slows him down a lot. I always liked to rest my hands on my gun and belt like some stereotypical cowboy. It's comfortable and you are already half way there
if you need to pull it. Beyond that be careful and ready for anything.