| Back in January I read an Officer down story that | | | | do not have access to the majority of the equipment |
| made me wonder how many of our nations Police | | | | that we rely on such as our radios, batons, taser, |
| Officers actually carry their firearms while off-duty. | | | | handcuffs. The one piece of equipment that should be |
| about Tyron Franklin, 23, a rookie patrolman in | | | | available to the 0ff-duty Police Officer is his/her |
| Paterson, N.J. who was shot and killed when someone | | | | firearm. |
| tried to rob him at gunpoint inside a restaurant. Franklin | | | | I personally do not carry my firearm concealed on my |
| was in civilian clothes and was unarmed. Franklin | | | | body while off-duty but I do keep it secured inside my |
| leaves behind a 16 month old son. | | | | vehicle. With my firearm inside my vehicle I can quickly |
| Off-duty Police Officers can become crime victims | | | | arm myself and take action if I come upon a situation |
| just as easily as the average citizen. There is also a | | | | that requires immediate intervention. I know that with |
| good chance that off-duty Police Officers will witness | | | | the rise of violent crime it would be wiser for me to |
| in progress violent crimes that may require intervention. | | | | carry my firearm concealed on my person rather than |
| We also have to remember that we arrest violent | | | | leaving it inside my vehicle. |
| criminals all the time and we may run into some of | | | | A perfect example of why Police Officers should be |
| them while we are off-duty. | | | | armed while off-duty is the Utah mall shooting involving |
| I have been recognized off-duty by known criminals | | | | Utah police Officer Ken Hammond. Hammond was |
| while walking through a shopping mall and grocery | | | | armed while walking through a mall when an 18 year |
| store. Those are the 2 times during the past 17 years | | | | old subject began randomly shooting shoppers inside |
| that I know I was recognized because I also | | | | the mall. Hammond heard gunfire inside the mall and he |
| recognized the criminal. I am sure there have been | | | | confronted and fired at the suspect who had already |
| many more times during that period of time that other | | | | shot several people. Officer Hammond's actions |
| criminals have recognized me while I was off-duty but I | | | | without a doubt saved numerous lives. If Officer |
| was unaware because I did not see the criminal. | | | | Hammond had not been armed he would not have |
| When we are off-duty we do not have back up | | | | been able to intervene and he could have become a |
| Officers nearby to aide us if the need arises. We also | | | | victim. |