When the police do stupid things I will criticize them. For example, I think it is a dumb policy to disarm a CCW holder during a traffic stop as a matter of policy. I have discussed this previously so I won’t get into my objections again. Having been employed as a police officer I believe that I am at least somewhat qualified to comment on this issue.

On the other hand, when the police do something correctly I feel compelled to mention that as well.

It is 2 am Wednesday and I have just returned home from a short drive during which I was stopped by a police officer with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department.

I currently live in an apartment and I am planning to move when my lease is up at the end of this month. Being unable to sleep I decided to go out for a drive around a nearby neighborhood on the far west side of town to see if I could spot any houses with “for rent” signs in the yard.

So, I’m driving around and I end up on a dead end street. As I started to turn around I observed a car approaching from behind but I didn’t have time or room to maneuver before the car got too close to me so I decide to wait until it is clear. I am a bit concerned however, because I am in a secluded spot and I wonder what this car is doing here coming up behind me so fast. As the car gets right up behind me, red and blue lights come on in my mirror.

Well, I know why this police officer lights me up at 1:30 in the morning so I put the car in park, reach for my wallet and place my hands on the steering wheel and wait for the officer to approach me.

The officer, who looked to be in his mid 30’s stepped up behind me and I say “Good morning,” and he asks what I am doing driving around this area. I explain to him that I am looking for houses for rent and advise him that I am armed.

The officer asked where my gun is and I tell him that I have two guns, one on my hip and one in a chest holster under my shirt. He asks if I have a CCW and I said: “You bet.”

At this point I removed my driver’s license and CCW from my wallet and asked if he wanted the registration cards as well. The officer responded that he does not want the registration cards but advised me not to reach for my guns. I told that I would be happy to comply with that. The officer asked if the car is registered in my name, I responded in the affirmative and he then returned to his vehicle.

I was wearing my seat belt, which restricted my access to the guns. I should note that I usually carry a third gun, my “car gun” that I place on the seat next to me but this morning I made a conscious decision not to take that gun with me.

Two or three minutes later the officer returned and gave my license and permit back to me and advised me that he stopped me because I appeared to be suspicious and because kids tend to like to party in the area. I told him that I understand that and thank him.

The officer told me that I could turn my car around after he moved his vehicle away from mine. He told me to have a nice morning and left.

The officer was polite and acted, in my opinion, in a completely professional manner.

The reason that I am writing this account is because I was surprised that I was not asked to exit my vehicle and disarmed.  I recently spoke to another police officer and inquired about LVMPD’s policy of disarming people during traffic stops. The officer told me that this was in fact their policy.

During this conversation, I advised the officer that I was armed and the officer only inquired where the gun was and he wanted to see it. He was satisfied with that. He didn’t even ask to see my permit.

I have had a couple of other conversations with police officers that I initiated. During these conversations, I mentioned that I was armed and the officers were only curious about that fact that I carry full-size Colt pistols. They have quizzed me about my reasons for carrying more than one firearm or why I carry large guns rather than smaller guns, but they did not seem to be concerned that I was armed.

During one such conversation, an officer asked if I always carry a gun. When I responded that I carry three guns. The officer’s response was: “Good man.”

I also have a friend who is a police officer who knows that I carry concealed. Even when we first met he didn’t ask to see my permit.

This encounter this morning is the first time that I was required to produce my carry permit except when I go to a gun show at county owned property.

I suppose that while it is the official policy of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department to disarm people during traffic stops or other encounters with armed people, it appears that at least a few police officers don’t follow that policy.

From my point of view, it isn’t necessary to disarm a person if the officer has any common sense or perhaps I should say, a well developed police officer’s sixth sense. In all the cases in which I have encountered police officers I remained calm, relaxed and polite, I didn’t make any furtive movements, and I was willing to follow their instructions such as “Don’t reach for the guns.” This seems reasonable to me and it seems reasonable that the officers don’t disarm me if I don’t appear to be a threat to them.

I was once told that one’s chances of surviving an encounter with Las Vegas cops was only 50/50. Maybe that estimate should be revised.