Answering the door Florida Style?

SeaCat · 10-14-2009, 10:00 PM

Here in southern Florida we keep hearing about people saying they are Police Officers while they are not Police Officers. We have had many people robbed, beaten up and sexually assaulted by imposters. Rarely does a month go by when we don’t hear about one or more down here.

The other night about one in the morning there was someone knocking on our door rather insistently. I slid out of bed and grabbed my handgun before moving towards the door. I asked who it was and was answered that it was the Police. I demanded to see an I.D. as I hit the speed dial for 9-1-1. A badge appeared in the window of the door as I asked the dispatcher if they had any police in the area. I read off the badge number. It was only after I received a confirmation of the badge number as well as the police being in the area that I opened the door.

The officer was a bit irked that I had asked for his I.D. and even more irked that I had hesitated to open the door to him. He really didn’t like the sight of me standing in the door wearing boxers and holding a handgun in one hand and a Cell Phone in the other. He told me that this was not the correct way to answer the door when a cop knocked, I might get a bad response from the officers. I agreed that this wasn’t the best way to answer the door but it was the way I answered it when someone knocked on my door at that time of morning. I then asked him what he needed.

He started asking me if I had noticed anything unusual a short time before then, people running through the area etc. I listened to him and honestly answered that I hadn’t. I had been in bed fairly early and neither my wife nor myself had heard anything. (My wife would have woken me if she had heard anything. Believe me she would have woken me.) As he was asking me this another cruiser pulled up and out climbed a Sheriffs Deputy. He walked up as I answered the questions.

Then the local cop started in again about the way I had answered the door. Both the Deputy and myself listened to this for a minute or so before the deputy interrupted. He asked the cop if he had been following the news about the imposters and their crimes. He told the cop that he would have answered the door in the same manner. In fact he would recommend everyone in the area should answer the door in nearly the same manner. (Ask for the cops I.D. while calling 9-1-1 to confirm they are in the area.) He didn’t recommend answering the door with a firearm but he understood that as well because of some of the crimes.

My recommendation is when someone you don’t recognize is knocking on your door ask for I.D. If they claim to be the police call the police and ask for confirmation. (This is your right by the way.) So what if it irritates the cops, they should understand.

Cat

sadangel · 10-14-2009, 10:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SeaCat

Here in southern Florida we keep hearing about people saying they are Police Officers while they are not Police Officers. We have had many people robbed, beaten up and sexually assaulted by imposters. Rarely does a month go by when we don’t hear about one or more down here.

The other night about one in the morning there was someone knocking on our door rather insistently. I slid out of bed and grabbed my handgun before moving towards the door. I asked who it was and was answered that it was the Police. I demanded to see an I.D. as I hit the speed dial for 9-1-1. A badge appeared in the window of the door as I asked the dispatcher if they had any police in the area. I read off the badge number. It was only after I received a confirmation of the badge number as well as the police being in the area that I opened the door.

The officer was a bit irked that I had asked for his I.D. and even more irked that I had hesitated to open the door to him. He really didn’t like the sight of me standing in the door wearing boxers and holding a handgun in one hand and a Cell Phone in the other. He told me that this was not the correct way to answer the door when a cop knocked, I might get a bad response from the officers. I agreed that this wasn’t the best way to answer the door but it was the way I answered it when someone knocked on my door at that time of morning. I then asked him what he needed.

He started asking me if I had noticed anything unusual a short time before then, people running through the area etc. I listened to him and honestly answered that I hadn’t. I had been in bed fairly early and neither my wife nor myself had heard anything. (My wife would have woken me if she had heard anything. Believe me she would have woken me.) As he was asking me this another cruiser pulled up and out climbed a Sheriffs Deputy. He walked up as I answered the questions.

Then the local cop started in again about the way I had answered the door. Both the Deputy and myself listened to this for a minute or so before the deputy interrupted. He asked the cop if he had been following the news about the imposters and their crimes. He told the cop that he would have answered the door in the same manner. In fact he would recommend everyone in the area should answer the door in nearly the same manner. (Ask for the cops I.D. while calling 9-1-1 to confirm they are in the area.) He didn’t recommend answering the door with a firearm but he understood that as well because of some of the crimes.

My recommendation is when someone you don’t recognize is knocking on your door ask for I.D. If they claim to be the police call the police and ask for confirmation. (This is your right by the way.) So what if it irritates the cops, they should understand.

Cat

Good for you Cat. I would think nothing of answering the door in the same manner. Well, without the gun...I don't have and won't have one.

Handley_Page · 10-15-2009, 12:50 AM

Oh, would that we were permitted handguns (strictly for protection, of course).

SeaCat · 10-15-2009, 06:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sadangel

Good for you Cat. I would think nothing of answering the door in the same manner. Well, without the gun...I don't have and won't have one.

Hmmmmm, do you mean answering the door in nothing but a pair of Boxers? If that's the case I might have to knock on your door late at night.

Cat

SeaCat · 10-15-2009, 06:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Handley_Page

Oh, would that we were permitted handguns (strictly for protection, of course).

Handguns can be useful for defense. On the other hand they are dangerous and require in my opinion training and constant practice. If a person isn't willing to go through with the cost and time needed for the training and practice then they shouldn't even consider buying or owning a handgun.

Then again I suppose I am biased on this. I have seen too many stories about people who have had their handguns used against them. Too many cases of the home owner using the handgun against their loved ones in a mistaken response.

I visit places like Thunder Ranch at least once a year to keep my responses sharp. I have friends in the local Sheriffs Department and have been able to use their Simulator several times. (I'm working with the county to set up a program where a simulator will be set up for public use. It's slow going because of the cost but it's moving ahead.) I shoot once a week, usually about 200 rounds per visit to the range. (That gets expensive fast.) I make my wife do the same thing so she is almost as good as I am. (The only difference is I have been shooting handguns for 25 years and she has been shooting them for ten.)

Cat