By the way you phrased that, I am assuming you are not in a uniform that the "well-meaning person" would recognize as a cop -- so maybe it's not the optimal choice to try to arrest him, out of uniform and on your own in someone else's jurisdiction?gigag04 wrote:Had he gotten out and said he was coming to assault me, he would've been proned out and arrested/detained for assault by threat until local LE could pick him up. I would just hope a well meaning person (cop, CHL, MPA) doesn't shoot an off duty LEO for proning some guy out at gun point roadside....
I am not trying to be "smart," just that I have read up on several of the cop-on-plainclothes-cop shootings, and I don't know that risking your hide to arrest some knucklehead who's shooting his mouth off in traffic is worth it, no matter how much he deserves it. (Altho the look on his face when he first realizes what he just stepped into would be interesting
) Were I an off-duty/out-of-uniform/out-of-district cop who observed a serious crime that threatened imminent injury or death to the citizenry (like the shooter at that mall in Utah), yeah that's worth mounting up and riding for, but for lesser stuff -- maybe be the good witness, keep an eye on the guy, call the local constabulary, be prepared to move in if he starts actually attacking you or someone else.
I keep thinking about that cop on long island in plain clothes and badge, with slung rifle. He was on his own turf even, talking to his own fellow officers who recognized him, when he got blasted by a cop from another agency. All after the original incident was over. Such a waste.