Background: I'm the "Security Manager" for my company's offices here in Houston.
I put it in quotes because its actually more like I'm the only guy who knows how to reprogram the access control system and alarm system for new/terminated employees, so I got stuck with it.
As a result of this, I am the contact person the alarm company contacts when our alarm goes off, which just so happened to occur Wednesday night. 10pm.
After a few quick calls to the 'usual suspects' for this kind of thing, I determined that it was not one of our employees that set it off, and told the alarm company to call the LEO's.
I Informed them that I would meet them there, and my ETA was 15 minutes. Also gave them a description of my vehicle. Not the first time I've had to do this, so I know the ropes.
Before I left, I grabbed my AR and a double-mag, loaded and chambered a round. Opened the aimpoint lens covers, turned on the red dot, and placed it on the rear seat of my truck within one-handed access reach.
We've had robberies at this office before, always outside though, where the video camera showed 3-4 guys cutting our fence and stealing our equipment/pipe/wire/etc. I didn't want to take any chances with multiple possibly armed assailants. Who was it that said that A Handgun is what you use to fight your way back to your rifle?
So I got there, 15 minutes later, pulled into the parking lot, parked far away from the front door (which appeared fine), looking at it, and waited.
I'm not paid enough, nor is it my job description to go and check the building myself. I had my camera-phone ready in case I needed to get some video of anyone leaving, but I was content to just sit and wait.
For anyone who is wondering, the response time, in my experience, to a commercial bulgular alarm after-hours by the police is anywhere from 15 minutes to over an hour. It's not quick... at all. I guess they figure that since it's unoccupied, it's not a priority.
An hour passes, I'm still sitting there, waiting. Call the alarm company back, asking for info, they contact dispatch, and tell them that I'm there waiting, and say that the officers should be there 'soon'. Fine.
10 minutes later, HPD pulls up next to me, verifies that I'm the one waiting, and says he's going to do a quick drive of the perimeter while he's waiting for someone else (He was alone, and I completely understand him wanting to at least have one other officer there for backup. After all, it was now about 11:45PM.) During this conversation, I don't exit my vehicle, just roll down the window.
I should mention now, that, in the interest of time, When they called me, I was in bed. I grabbed a quick pair of shorts, and a t-shirt, and threw on my OWB to Carry my 3" 1911. Let's just say that if you wanted a definition of Printing... I was doing it hardcore that night
.After he does the sweep, 4 Constables arrive. At this time, I had gotten out of the truck, and was standing under one of the lights in the parking lot with my hands away from my sides, clearly visible. I figured it was probably A good thing to do for when everyone started to show up. Didn't want them having to ask me to step out of the vehicle or anything.
I don't think the constables were given the information the HPD officer was, because they were asking who I was, etc. I casually explained who I was, etc, when I noticed one of them on my right side basically giving me a quick scan, and stopping on my hip (Which I previously mentioned was probably the definition of 'printing' that night)
"Can we see some ID?" He blurts out... I almost laughed out loud, because I knew exactly what he was really asking for. I slowly reached down into my right cargo pocket, and removed my wallet. Placed it on the hood of a nearby cruiser, and removed my DL & CHL. Handed them to the nearest officer. He saw the CHL, said nothing about it, and took it back to his car, apparently to write my info down in his report or whatever. I will say that as soon as he & the other officer saw the CHL, I noticed a visible drop in their apprehension. Guess they knew I was one of the 'Good Guys' ;)
Anyways, I opened the office door for them, they went inside, and found the cleaning guy, a new hire who was given the wrong alarm code. (2 numbers were reversed). We cleared everything up, and I thanked them and let the cleaning guy get back to his job.
So, yea, interesting first contact, but It was positive, so that's all I can ask for.
I'm glad it all worked out well.