Being recognized in public

[Defender77]

Do you folks worry about it? Esp. when you are with your family?

Do any of you take steps to change your appearance in public and/or do you avoid going to certain establishments where you might possibly run into your "clientelle?"


Most of my days off is spent either working special duty or riding my motorcycle. If I do go out, whether alone or with family I am always armed.

[janego10]

I dont live in the city I work in and will never go there for leisure. Me and my family went once and my wife wanted to go into a local pawn shop to look at DVDs. We spent maybe 10 minutes there and after we walked out the door, my wife tells me that half the people in line to pawn junk (most likely stolen) were whispering about how I was a cop. I dont see how other officers do it, living in the city limits. I've heard some horror stories.

Oh, I'm ALWAYS armed.

[MethBuster]

I'd recommend something similar to this when going out in public with your family:

[grog18b]

Best thing you can do is be prepared. Even if you don't live where you work, criminals travel. They also share info on types of vehicles in the station parking lot, and in small towns, they know where you live. There is a video of a ex-con trying to murder a corrections officer on the front steps of his house. Fortunately the CO was armed and was able to defend himself.

I had the thing every cop dreads happen to me one night at my house. One of the people I arrested on numerous felonies who was out on bail came to my house. I live in a very rural area, long driveway, fence around the property, and German Shepard in the perimeter. He starts barking, I hit the driveway lights and there sits dude in his truck with the lights off in front of my gate. He pulls out and drives down the road a hundred yards and stops. Having been a boy scout, I was prepared for just this event. Keys and Beowulf by the door, with slip on boots and SP jacket. I grab the bug out bag, weapon, cell, and keys, get the truck started loaded the dog, and started down the road after him. I waited until I got right up to his stopped truck until I hit the lights and he took off. I got the plate number and followed him a few miles until he stopped.

He gets out of his truck and starts coming back toward mine until he sees the Beowulf pointed at him. I ID'd him, and called for another officer to be sent to the location, held him until they arrived. He did jail time for that incident.

That shows it can happen to you and your family, not only in public places, but right in your own driveway. Best thing you can do is anticipate meeting these people, and be prepared to defend yourself, and make sure your family is trained too. Good home security system is also a must. Make sure the members of your family know how to respond in public to someone approaching you, and be able to give them non-verbal signals of danger they will recognize and react to.

[Defender77]

Best thing you can do is be prepared. Even if you don't live where you work, criminals travel. They also share info on types of vehicles in the station parking lot, and in small towns, they know where you live. There is a video of a ex-con trying to murder a corrections officer on the front steps of his house. Fortunately the CO was armed and was able to defend himself.

I had the thing every cop dreads happen to me one night at my house. One of the people I arrested on numerous felonies who was out on bail came to my house. I live in a very rural area, long driveway, fence around the property, and German Shepard in the perimeter. He starts barking, I hit the driveway lights and there sits dude in his truck with the lights off in front of my gate. He pulls out and drives down the road a hundred yards and stops. Having been a boy scout, I was prepared for just this event. Keys and Beowulf by the door, with slip on boots and SP jacket. I grab the bug out bag, weapon, cell, and keys, get the truck started loaded the dog, and started down the road after him. I waited until I got right up to his stopped truck until I hit the lights and he took off. I got the plate number and followed him a few miles until he stopped.

He gets out of his truck and starts coming back toward mine until he sees the Beowulf pointed at him. I ID'd him, and called for another officer to be sent to the location, held him until they arrived. He did jail time for that incident.

That shows it can happen to you and your family, not only in public places, but right in your own driveway. Best thing you can do is anticipate meeting these people, and be prepared to defend yourself, and make sure your family is trained too. Good home security system is also a must. Make sure the members of your family know how to respond in public to someone approaching you, and be able to give them non-verbal signals of danger they will recognize and react to.

Good job being prepared! I'll bet that guy wasn't counting on you being ready for action just like that.

Do you know where we can see the video of that Officer that you mentioned?

[LINY]

I'd recommend something similar to this when going out in public with your family:

That one always fools me!

[crass cop]

GROG..OUCH! You have a great deal of patience and discipline.
I am afraid I do not and I may have "found" a dead felon at the foot of my property the next morning when I went to get the paper.

Mess with me, thats one thing...but MY family...nope..I cant have that

Good job!

[Defender77]

I dont live in the city I work in and will never go there for leisure. Me and my family went once and my wife wanted to go into a local pawn shop to look at DVDs. We spent maybe 10 minutes there and after we walked out the door, my wife tells me that half the people in line to pawn junk (most likely stolen) were whispering about how I was a cop. I dont see how other officers do it, living in the city limits. I've heard some horror stories.

Oh, I'm ALWAYS armed.

Pawn shops, definitely a place to find our clientele.

[TexasAggieOfc]

Can't really avoid it around here. I live and work in my hometown (ok, so I live just outside it). Even when I worked in the next county over, still dealt with plenty of locals. Armed 99% of the time, and don't go anywhere "shady" such as bars, pawn shops, etc. in my jurisdiction.

[mikeymedic]

Nope, went to the High School once when in plain clothes for an investigation...got asked by the principal for my hall pass.

This is no joke, seriously I look that young.

[LAChief]

Having worked for the Sheriff's Office for years, and now Chief...who in the Parish doesn't know me? Yes, I'm armed when I go out. Kids have been briefed about using the peepholes on the doors and about being approached by strangers. You knock on my door, and if my wife or I don't know you, we will be armed when the door opens.

Paranoid? I think not....just being prepared

[grog18b]

Do you know where we can see the video of that Officer that you mentioned?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UOFjTICOV3I

[TheKansan]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UOFjTICOV3I

Scary stuff. When you work with literally thousands of inmates, you aren't going to remember them all, but they will remember you. They will remember everything about you. It's a scary thought.

[SgtCHP]

I was paranoid for a short while after an OIS. But, that all waned and I no longer concern myself with the issue. You have to live life, enjoy life and go about daily affairs without the stress of worry. If you cannot do so, you should relocate or get a different line of work.

When you treat folks with fairness and apply the law with discipline and restraint, there is no need to worry about those walking behind you.

[CruiserClass]

Less and less all the time. I'm actually considering moving to the district I live in for the convenience of it, which would increase the chances of being recognized off duty.