On Duty Sheriff Sgt. Loses Gear

[stash]

This one is kinda nuts. An on duty Dona Ana (Las Cruces, N.M.) sheriff sgt. left his duty belt in his marked vehicle and went into the Mesilla Valley Mall. The duty belt contained his Glock 22, taser, mags and the other normal police stuff that LEO's carry. Well, you all know what happened - yep, his vehicle was broken into and his stuff was stolen. A mall spokesperson indicated that LEO's are allowed in the mall armed if they are on duty "and" responding to a call. A police spokesperson said the sgt. may have been acquiescing to mall policy by leaving his gun and stuff in his vehicle. Hard to figure out why mall policy would not permit on duty LEO's in the mall armed for a bite of lunch or something.

[gigag04]

That's plain stupid. You don't know when your shopping could turn into a call. Especially the way that people like to pointlessly shoot up cops in public places.

I would never set foot in public in my uniform without a vest, a gun, and a radio at a minimum.

[TXlaw1]

That's plain stupid. You don't know when your shopping could turn into a call. Especially the way that people like to pointlessly shoot up cops in public places.

I would never set foot in public in my uniform without a vest, a gun, and a radio at a minimum.

Totally stupid policy - and not the brightest officer either. Before retirement, I was not in uniform without my gun etc - that's policy! Wonder what kind of discipline he will received?

[baldeagle]

If he really felt it was necessary (and prudent!) to disarm, why wouldn't he put his gear in the trunk??

[stash]

Baldeagle - I forgot to note but his marked vehicle was a truck (I assume a P/U).

[baldeagle]

Baldeagle - I forgot to note but his marked vehicle was a truck (I assume a P/U).

Ah, well that puts a slightly different light on it.

[Liberty]

Does the mall policy have any legal bearing?
Lot's of places in Texas have anti-gun policy's but CHL owners and LEO's still can carry there.

[PappaGun]

I do not know if the mall is posted as no guns.
But NM is an OC state.
I'm not sure how how the policy would matter all that much if it's not posted.
So, some one can OC but a LEO feels the need to comply with an armed while responding only policy?
Something is wrong here.
I lived in NM for 30 years and have been to that mall.
I don't recall it being posted.

[mgood]

I think it's really strange to hear of a uniformed LEO, outside of Mayberry, not carrying a gun. I can't imagine that the law or department policy requires this.