LEO encounter at Home Depot in Allentown

[BlownNitroPontiac]

I guess my answer would have been:

"You're off duty? Great. I'm not complying with any of your requests to do anything, because you're now an off-duty private citizen. I will, however, remain here while you contact an officer who IS knowlegable and is on duty."

There.

[ArchAngelCD]

I know this has been said already but I have to say it again. There was NO REASON for an off duty police officer to pat you down and make a spectacle of you by making you hold your hands in the air like a criminal. You were treated poorly even though it was done with a smile on their faces. Also, the officer was in violation of the law by taking your wallet. That's how drugs get planted on someone you know.

[headcase]

Originally Posted by PennsyPlinker

I spoke to Mr. Lutz, the store manager, just a little while ago while I was out doing some business. It was a phone conversation. It was like pulling teeth to get a concise, straight answer out of him, but it did come with some prodding. He spoke to the corporate entity in Atlanta, and "the store policy is the corporate policy".

"What does that mean?"

"It means that we are in compliance with our corporate policy."

"And that is...?"

"It means that we observe any laws in force in Pennsylvania."

"So you are telling me I can bring my gun into the store in plain view?"

"We will observe Pennsylvania law."

"Pennsylvania law says that I am allowed to bring my gun into the store, but if you tell me to leave, I have to leave."

"Yes, just as I can tell anyone else to leave and they have to leave."

"So if I show up with my gun in plain view, are you going to tell me to leave?"

"No."

So there it is. I will be needing some stuff in the next few days, so I will be interested to see how it all works out. He didn't sound real happy, like maybe it was store policy, and he would follow it without liking it very much. I don't know. He did invite me to ask for him next time I was in the store if I wanted to speak with him some more about the issue.

I have to spread the love yet again. I have a little notebook for you, and a few others, on how much rep I owe you...

[CZ40P]

There is something else to consider , we all assume that the police will act within the letter of the law. When a officer is prepared to break the law and the rules to enforce his opinion, they are not usually bound by the same laws they construe to uphold.

There are many, many instances of folks having a bad interaction with badge heavy police officers. These officers will lie to cover their butts. They will invent charges like resisting arrest, interfering with an officer, or they could just beat the hell out of you and make up a nice story later.

It all depends on what the "locals" are used to getting away with. When police administrators and district judges look the other way, they create more of these goons.

I have always felt that if the situation at The Old Country Buffet had a few less witnesses, the outcome would have been very different. One or two guys alone would have gone for a ride in a police car or an ambulance.
That is exactly what happened to that fella in Harrisburg last year.
He ended up a felon and was told to get out of PA.
The big bad DA went on to make a name for himself in the DeNaples probe.

It's not really about justice to these guys, it's all about their careers. That is why the whole "system" sometimes comes down on folks heads.

[gnbrotz]

Originally Posted by CZ40P

we all assume that the police will act within the letter of the law.

I don't. I hope they will.

[headcase]

Originally Posted by gnbrotz

I don't. I hope they will.

I assume they won't and hope they will.

[Mocha Java]

Originally Posted by Pa. Patriot

Well, I've been extremely busy this week catching up on "things". And have unfortunately been unable to spend much time on the board so I just finally read this thread. I spoke with the OP via phone tonight and he/we will be investigating and initiating various responses to this incident.
(snip)

Well stated.
IMO, O.C. is (at this time) is a political statement more than anything else. I happen to agree with the politics of it, but one has to be prepared for the inevitable confrontation and willing to follow it through. It should never come as a shock and you should never be limited in your response because of family presence, etc.
Don't O.C. if that's going to affect your response.

[ArchAngelCD]

Anything new happen with this situation?

[Pa. Patriot]

Originally Posted by ArchAngelCD

Anything new happen with this situation?

Yes... Nothing to post *yet* though...

[akapjr]

Today I was talking to an off duty Allentown policeman.He is one of the good guys.He knows that OC is legal in Pa.He says he does not bother anyone that he sees OC and he has seen quite a few of us around..I told him about home depot last week.He did not know anything about it.I printed out the story for him.He read it and said that most all of the Allentown policemen would have done nothing if they were there.Most all of the police force knows OC is legal and he said the chief is a good guy and also knows this..He said it must have been one of the newer young guys.He is going to find out who it was and let me know.He did not know about our web site so I gave him a patriot flyer to read and our web site.I told him all of the local police in the lehigh valley has been sent a flyer.He said that he has never seen the flyer before.So I hope this helps us around here.