From WTVF:
An armed Metro Police Lieutenant running an errand was turned away from the Social Security Administration office in Madison.
He was trying to get a replacement social security card at the Cude Lane location. Fraternal Order of Police President James Smallwood serves as a voice for Metro officers. He said it's against department policy for them to remove their weapons while in uniform as it could put the public, and the officer, in danger. ...
A spokesperson for the Social Security Administration issued a statement:
"Under federal law, Federal Protective Service law enforcement officers and other law enforcement officers, performing official duties, are allowed to enter the premises with their weapons. Law enforcement officers visiting a Social Security facility to conduct personal business must secure their weapon at an appropriate location outside of the facility prior to entry." ...
9 comments:
The police unions make federal unions look like management flunkies with the way they scream about unfair practices against their officers. Here's an idea... run errands when you're off-duty and don't "have to" carry your weapon. Federal agencies are not required to bend their rules to cater to local law enforcement.
Please, let's not make local law enforcement the enemy no matter their uniform or cause to be in our offices. We should roll out our welcome mat any time they roll up.
Working in an office that's been on lockdown and our closest FPS officer is 1hr+ away, I would hope we can dial 911 and local or state police will respond without fear of agency reprisal.
7:31 PM, 18 U.S.C. 930 applies to state and local law enforcement too, except when they are performing official duties. Getting a Social Security card is not an official duty.
No one is saying law enforcement is the enemy. We are saying law enforcement also needs to follow the law. Having the Fraternal Order of Police declare themselves above the law should be shocking to anyone.
Those rules against active/uniformed officers went into effect many years ago under the edict that no one could bring a weapon into the office. However the contract guards could, also employees and the general public can as there is no screening at almost all offices. And how they would be screened I cannot say as the cost and danger is very substantial.
Uniformed officers would get especially upset at the idiotic rule. One uniformed SWAT officer questioned that if he encountered a wanted dangerous felon, who may have had a weapon, and he did not...As an office manager I had to tell active on duty officers who were upset that they would be arrested if they would not leave or keep the firearm outside, you can imagine the reaction. Regional Office leaders recognized the problem and agreed that it really made law enforcement officers angry but said there hands were tied, by who I am unsure.
Regional CSI and OIG were not helpful although they too agreed the policy was flawed. 11:45 posting should visit a large urban office to get an education on the real world.
Wow, still makes me worry even after retirement. Hard to understand or justify.
11:45 AM. If you would have carefully read the article, you would have understood that he was "off-duty," but in uniform. Police in uniform should be exempt from almost all restrictions, some of which are absurd. Do you really want the police to leave their guns in the car while in the post office? Federal visitor centers, such as in a National Park or Forest? At a dam, operated by Army Corps of Engineers? These restrictions are stupid!
Actually, Tim, I read the story carefully. Nowhere does it say he was off-duty. One would have to assume that because the FOP officer said that officers entering buildings before or after work that this particular officer was doing so.
The other thing is that "off-duty" does not typically include officers in uniform whether on their way to or from work or on a lunch break. It's when they appear as civilians. Many departments tell their officers that any time you're in your uniform, you're on duty whether on the clock or not. However, if that technicality is too troubling, I'll change it to let them handle SSA business when they're not in uniform.
"As an office manager I had to tell active on duty officers who were upset that they would be arrested if they would not leave or keep the firearm outside, you can imagine the reaction"
I can hear them say: Go ahead, make the call - my brother Bill is answering the phone!
Just because they have a badge doesnt mean I trust them with a gun.
Agree. All offices should have metal detectors in addition to armed guards.
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