Backup

[SR-25]

Ive spoken to a few LEO's about this topic and I thought I would bring it up here. My friend was talking to me about his plans to go into the military as an MP and become a Police Officer after he gets out. One thing led to another and we were talking about types of back up. As to where im staying in school and getting my degree, he said that after he becomes an MP, he is going to have either a shirt that says " MILITARY POLICE " on the front and back or a BP vest with " MILITARY POLICE " attached to both sides with velcro. When I asked him why the hell he would need to carry that off-duty and in his car, he said that if there was anytime he was to pull up behind an LEO making a traffic stop and give him the " Code 4 " sign he wanted no discrepancy as to his identification. My question is this: As Officers would you welcome the backup of an MP or would it be more of a nuisance than a help?

[SuperTrooper]

Sounds like another officer safety issue to me. I wouldn't want some yo yo pulling behind me on a traffic stop in an unmarked car wearing a "police" jacket he/she could of bought on ebay. There's no way of knowing what their intentions are, and it's a great way to get shot.

[Your Mentor]

Yeh, that's frightening. Remember, we all walk a thin line in a civilian world. Most in-service officers will only stop and assist when you're in a full-blown brawl. Sure, I'd welcome an MP's help if I'm in a pinch but I'd also welcome the help of a hardware store clerk whom I know on sight. But I can say that if I see someone in a raid jacket get out of a civilian vehicle offering to back me up during a routine traffic stop, I'm automatically sizing that person up as a nut-job wanta-be who's got a bearcat scanner running at full volume in their rig. And that, my friends is an instantenious liability, NOT an asset. So tell your friend to keep it low volume, show us the code four hand sign and move on if we give it back.

[Flying Pig]

Tell your buddy thats a BAD idea.......if hea wants to maybe wait with a cell phone down the road, or pull over out of the way "just in case" thats cool...but if he pulls up behind the unit....hes gonna have issues!

[not5150]

I remember a ride-along on the 105 freeway where we had stopped 3 teenagers walking on the freeway. The officer was patting them down when a regular car stopped behind our car.

Out comes a male hispanic in street clothes with a pistol in low ready. I yelled to the officer who looked back and his eyes got REAL big.

The guy comes running up and then holds a shield in his off-hand. He yells, "I'm MTA police, need some help?" This was back when MTA was a separate department.

You talk about pucker factor....

[Mac]

I agree with YM. I've stopped and assisted ONCE off-duty in my entire career, and it was for a Sgt. that was in an all-out brawl on the shoulder with a 5150 he had stopped. In 99.999% of situations I'd really rather not have people pulling up behind me when I'm on stops - it just adds one more distraction and one more tactical problem to deal with.

Tell your buddy he'll get plenty of chances to be a cop while he's on duty. What he's considering is a bad idea, and could lead to him ending up at gunpoint a few times.