I was sitting in my car waiting for the wife. Two cars parked in front of me each had a macho male occupant and words were said. One idiot got out with a golf club the other with a baseball bat. They met behind their vehicles. Argued for a second and then raised up their weapons as if they were going strike each other. as they did so a young girl exited a business and walked between their two vehicles towards the two macho morons.

I exited my car with my badge and pistol in hand and treated them like they were ten year old idiots. They mellowed put the weapons down and then realized the little girl was right behind them. They were embarrassed and thanked me for intervening. I took their info in case the local police arrived and they left quietly.

quote:

Originally posted by jljones:
Avoid it, unless lives will be lost.

Be a good witness.

As they say at FLETC if you can't cover it up with your thumb, you are too close.

quote:

Originally posted by jljones:
Avoid it, unless lives will be lost.

Be a good witness.

This here.

I once happened upon one of our guys trying to stop a wanted subject that was in the last few steps before he was going to run. I got in front of him and got him to stop, but ended up turfing him when the other officer got to us and dude tried to fight.

I, like just about everybody else who's replied, have only gotten involved in off-duty incidents where somebody's safety was at risk---otherwise, I dialed 911 and was a good witness.

The one really notable one was when I was at an intersection waiting for the light to change and the driver of the car behind and to the left of me got out of his vehicle with a baseball bat and walked toward the driver in front of him. I opened my car door just as he cocked his bat and I pulled my ID wallet out of my back pocket and put my hand on my gun.

I leaned on the roof of the car to show my badge and said loudly, "Don't do it, you'll end up in Huntsville."

He looked at me, turned back toward his car, and said, "Nah, I don't want to go back." He drove off.

Sadly a Vancouver, WA cop lost his life when trouble came to his home when he was off-duty, he exited his house to get involved, and an arriving deputy didn't know who he was.

Seems like the advice given in those school shooting drills of keeping your hands up with palms facing the arriving police is good advice, but in this case it sounds like a fight was likely already underway from what is known so far, and the arriving deputy couldn't sort out who was who. Again, details are sketchy, but what an awful outcome. It also seems the arriving deputies may not have received word that on off duty was there, but that's not surprising since things happen very fast, and communication sometimes isn't optimal.


On Saturday, January 29, 2022 around 2014 hours police responded to Chevron, 9810 NE 117th Avenue, Vancouver, for an armed robbery that just occurred. The caller reported a 23-24YOA white male reportedly produced a handgun, pointed the firearm at the clerk’s chest and demanded money.

The suspect fled the scene in a stolen dark-colored Mercedes passenger car with several hundred dollars. Twelve minutes later, the armed robbery suspect was intercepted by police traveling northbound on I-205. The robbery suspect failed to stop for police and the suspect eluded officer’s apprehension attempts. The robbery suspect eluded officers for several miles and eventually exited I5 toward the City of Battle Ground, Washington where assisting officers successfully deployed spike strips to immobilize the vehicle. The robbery suspect then exited the vehicle and fled on foot to avoid apprehension.

As assisting officers established containment, a resident in the Battle Ground area called 911 reporting a lone male, coincidentally matching the description of the robbery suspect, was pounding on their front door asking for assistance because he had just been involved in a collision. The female caller told emergency dispatch her husband was an armed off-duty Vancouver Police Officer and had exited their residence onto the driveway in front of their home in an attempt to detain the suspect for responding officers.

The suspect then became aggressive and engaged in a physical fight with the off-duty officer while the female caller was still on the phone with emergency dispatch. The off-duty officer lost control of his firearm and suffered several stab wounds during the struggle with the suspect. The suspect broke free from the struggle and ran toward the officer’s residence which was occupied by the officer’s wife, who was still on the phone with emergency dispatch. The off-duty officer was able to recover his firearm that he lost control of during the struggle then ran after the suspect who was attempting to enter his home while still in possession of the instrument used to stab him.

Within seconds of responding law enforcement officers arriving on scene, one Clark County Deputy Sheriff fired several rounds from a rifle striking the off-duty officer. The off-duty officer/homeowner collapsed on his front porch before responding officers were able to determine he was the homeowner and not the alleged robbery suspect. The suspect surrendered to police moments later and was taken into custody without incident.

Officers attempted to provide emergency trauma care to the off-duty officer, but they were unable to stabilize him. The deceased off-duty Vancouver Police Officer has been identified as 52YOA Donald Sahota. His official cause of the death has not been determined. The investigation of the use of force by the Clark County Deputy Sheriff is being investigated by the Lower Columbia Major Crimes Team, in accordance with the Law Enforcement Training and Community Safety Act.

http://www.flashalertnewswire....260_PR1_01302022.pdf

Be a good witness unless lives are in imminent threat. They issue is neon arm bands that say 'police' for improved off duty identification, but never had to use it.

I think it would depend on the size of the department. Here in SoDak where a 10 man department is considered a large department the assistance of an off-duty officer can be most welcome when you are the only officer on duty.

quote:

Originally posted by Ace31:

quote:

Originally posted by jljones:
Avoid it, unless lives will be lost.

Be a good witness.

As they say at FLETC if you can't cover it up with your thumb, you are too close.

During firefighter training haz-mat module an instructor once said “When initially approaching a potential haz-mat scene use the rule of thumb. Stick your thumb up, if you see it you’re too close!”

Messed up all the way around in Vancouver.

Armed and got stabbed, then shot. Not good at all.

My biggest one was this: I was driving to the range on my day off, and I had my radio with me. I heard our units called to a robbery which had just occurred and a description of the suspects and vehicle get put out upon their arrival. I saw the vehicle traveling opposite way past me, so I follow it, calling it out as I did. They noticed me folk othe my in my little red Honda Civic, so they attempted to speed away. I continued with my hazards on, calling everything out. The vehicle turned from one highway to another where I saw a bag being thrown out on the side of the ramp, and I called that out. I went about three miles on the interstate before they exited and drove into a Best Buy parking lot. The vehicle slowed, and was coming to a stop. I knew responding officers were getting close so I began a felony traffic stop. This was back in the ‘90s so I can’t remember details, but I think I got one out as response arrived to take over. I got awarded by my age and by the public for the arrest of those two robbers while off duty. The bag of cash was quickly recovered that was thrown out at that ramp so it all turned out good.

Off duty suburban police officer came to aid of TN state trooper last week.

https://www.wsmv.com/news/body...26-cfadb4ec4fab.html