Quote:
Originally Posted by EvocBruce
"Jarhed123 is a LEO"
Does that make it lawful? Was he using a civilian vehicle for law enforcement purposes? How many law enforcement officers would want some unknown person, with a dash light, approaching them at night while working a traffic stop?
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You make a valid point, Bruce.
I didn't comment on this one when I first saw it. I wanted to think about it for a little while before I posted.
I know Marcos, and he is a great guy, and I'm sure a good cop. I wasn't there, just like any of you, so I'm not saying that he was wrong, and my comments certainly aren't meant to be a slam to him, either. It sounds like he was just checking by on a fellow LEO...until the traffic stop part.
I have stopped to back up officers before, off-duty, on the rare occasion when something was going on. I have never stopped on a "normal" traffic stop, and I have never carried any kind of emergency lighting with me in any of my POVs in my 16 years as an LEO. I have also had others stop to assist...IMHO, it causes a distraction to the officer on the stop, but I certainly would be grateful if I really needed the help.
Personally, in this case, I think at least posting about it wasn't the best thing to do. I think it sends the wrong message (despite the disclaimer at the bottom).
There has been a growing number of incidents, on both websites, where people have talked about having emergency lights in their cars, or wanting to drive their emergency-equipped vehicle on the public roadways.
It is a privilege for us to be able to restore these cars, and I think that we need to stay the course, for the good of the hobby, with respect to displaying them and with the emergency lighting issues. We don't need people telling others that they are LEO when they aren't, just as much as we don't need people driving around on public roadways with emergency equipment on them (whether LEO or not).
Can LEOs do it? In Florida they sure can. Should they??
It is our responsibility to police ourselves, and to maintain the level of integrity that allows us the freedom to participate in this hobby.
My .02.