Austin PD Talks about Open Carry/Officer Response

[Mreed911]

Source: http://www.austinmonitor.com/storie...uss-open-carry-with-public-safety-commission/

Looks like even Austin will be taking a more measured approach...

In a presentation to the Public Safety Commission, Officer Michael Barker of the APD training department described how officers would continue to respond to reports of people carrying firearms, but would also be sensitive to the newly enshrined right. While gun carriers are required to produce a license if asked by a police officer, they shouldn’t expect to be constantly harassed by law enforcement either, said Barker.

“We’re not going to go up to every citizen and ask them for their handgun license,” he said. “That would be unreasonable.”


However, unholstering a gun for any reason is a great way to immediately interact with police. “If somebody has a handgun, and they’re pulling it out of the holster and displaying it, it’s probably calculated to alarm the public, and we’ll respond to that situation,” said Barker.


There is no penalty for failing to produce a license upon request from a police officer, but those who cannot prove they are licensed may be arrested for carrying without a license, even if the charges are later dropped.

Dispatcher training will be a good help. They'll still respond, but they're letting folks know it's not necessarily illegal.

Brian Manley, chief of staff to Police Chief Art Acevedo, said that dispatchers will ask specific questions to gauge the threat level. Are they creating a disturbance? Are they near a sensitive location, such as a school?


“Based on their activity or their location, that will show where they’ll fall within the spectrum of our response,” Manley said.


If sight of the weapon is the only concern given in a 911 call, dispatchers will explain to citizens that Texas is now an open carry state. The police will dispatch an officer as long as the person expresses concern, said Manley, “but it will be a very different response than if this person was waving a weapon around in front of an elementary school.”

 

[AustinN4]

Good to know, thanks.

 

[Shotgun Jeremy]

That Austin Police Chief may be a knucklehead, but the rest of the dept has always been upstanding when it comes to gun rights and police marksmanship. I'm glad to see they're continuing that.

 

[duckknot]

Sounds great! Im hopeful it'll be a smooth transition!

Considering 911 calls have spiked country-wide because UPS rented some uhauls I'm imagining they'll go up in Texas when people start open carrying!

 

[BRD@66]

That Austin Police Chief may be a knucklehead, but the rest of the dept has always been upstanding when it comes to gun rights and police marksmanship. I'm glad to see they're continuing that.

^ Yeah!

 

[zincwarrior]

I'd bet the reality in Travis County will be quite different.

 

[Davetex]

I'd bet the reality in Travis County will be quite different.

And.............

 

[AustinN4]

Speaking of TCSD, word has it Gregg Hamilton is not going to run for reelection and all of the candidates want to end the ICE detainers Hamilton has been doing:

http://www.mystatesman.com/news/news/local/sheriff-candidates-united-on-ending-ice-detainers/nnYWm/

 

[Davetex]

Speaking of TCSD, word has it Gregg Hamilton is not going to run for reelection and all of the candidates want to end the ICE detainers Hamilton has been doing:

http://www.mystatesman.com/news/news/local/sheriff-candidates-united-on-ending-ice-detainers/nnYWm/

That's a shame. Gregg Hamilton has been the best sheriff we've had in a longgggg time.