Expert: Loren Stevens - 3/10/2005

Question
I'd like to know if police officers bring their badges and guns with them when they travel. Do they bring them in every circumstance, vacation and work-related travel? We were talking about whether an officer might have to intervene if something were to happen, for instance if a shooting were to happen if s/he were in attendance at a public place while on vacation. What is the officer supposed to do, and would s/he have his or her badge with them on vacation?

Thank you

Answer
Hi,
There is no rule that is consistent for all law enforcement officers. Mostly, it is the officer's descretion. Each state has their own CCW statutes. And, "jurisdiction" is always an issue. It is too much hassle to carry a firearm on planes these days, so that's usually not done much anymore. If an officer sees a crime while not on duty, it depends on the crime ie., a pettit offense, or felony, life threatening or not etc. Otherwise, the officer is like any other citizen when out of jurisdiction.
The informal standard, is not to carry a badge if not also a firearm, and not to carry a firearm without the badge.
Hope this helps.
loren