Very good encounter today

[Daniel964]

Sorry if this is to long winded for everyone.

I was on my way home this afternoon. Comeing from Athens to Columbus. I was a few miles from Franklin County line in Fairfield County when I had a anti lock brake warning light come on. I was coming up to a red light on SR33 in heavy traffic. As I stopped at the light my car died. I tried to restart it but it was completely dead. It wouldn't even turn over.

I was in the middle of the freeway, light turned green, traffic going by me on both sides. I was worried about being rear ended so I called 911 right away and told them what happened. They said they would get an officer to me right away.

Right after I hung up their was a break in traffic so I was able to get my car pushed to the side by myself.

I called 911 back to tell them I had got the car pff the road. At that time a Deputy pulled up behind me.

I waited for him by the rear of my car with my hands in plain sight. As he exited his car and started toward me I said hi their, I need to let you know I have a CCW and I am armed.

He said ok. They told me you were stalled in traffic. I explained that I had just got it pushed to the side of the road. He then asked if he could see my CCW liscense as his dispatcher was going to be asking him about that from where he had just called in my plate number.

I gave him my CCW and drivers liscense. He said he would be back in a few minutes. He didn't ask where the weapon was. Ask to take control of it etc. He was very relaxed about it. While I was waiting for him I called my wife to come over and help me with my car by bringing some tools.

He came back and asked if their was anything he could do for me. I said I had called my wife to bring a few tools to see if I could get it fixed real quick. If not I was going to call a tow truck.

He then left.


Wait it gets better.


After my wife showed up I tried to get the car started with ZERO luck so I called my roadside service plan.

While my wife and I were waiting for the tow truck I was moveing some things from my car to hers. I had just been to a gun show and had a lot of ammo and other things.

While I'm doing this I hear her honk her horn. I look up and another deputy has pulled up behind her car.

I walk over to the passenger door to wait for this deputy. My wife is sitting in the drivers seat of her car with her handgun on her right hip.

As this deputy exits his car i say HI their. I need to let you know I have a CCW and I am armed. My wife is also and its on her right hip. I added my wifes weapon location since I have heard doubts about what is plan sight in a car.

He bent over a little to look in the car and said ok.

Can I see your CCW liscense and yours too please. (Directed toward my wife.) We hand them to him ,explain to him what we are doing. The info hadn't been passed to him about us. He checks with his dispatcher and gets the all clear.

He tells me he will be just down the road and if we have any problems to call 911 and he will come right back over.

He also didn't ask where my weapon was or ask to secure either of them.

I did thank both of them when they stopped for their help and shook their hand.


I intend on calling their department Monday to let their supervisor know how pleased I was with their help.

Daniel

[Cruiser]

Good stop for you, but! My thoughts while reading this were not great. Much on the lines of "papers please". If handguns had not been presant how would the same officers had treated you?

[FireEMSPolice]

You called 9-1-1 for your disabled vehicle? From my experience, thats a pretty poor reason for a 9-1-1 call. You should have called "0" for the operator or 1411 to get the local police number. If you have AAA and called them for roadside assistance, one of the first questions they ask is "Are you in a safe location?" I am sure they could have helped you. As always, use your hazards.

[Daniel964]

I wasn't in a safe place. I was stalled in the middle of the road with people passing on both sides. I called right away because I believe last year a vehicle was rear ended near that spot and a person killed.

Also hazards were on.

[dan_sayers]

Good stop for you, but! My thoughts while reading this were not great. Much on the lines of "papers please". If handguns had not been presant how would the same officers had treated you?

That was my reaction too. Not a "biggie" on the surface, but it indicates a lack of logic in terms of: No bad guy is going to inform him. You're licensed because you're a proven good guy and you're complying because you're a good guy and (forgive my presumptiveness) because you too are concerned for the officer's well being. For him to run your ID--whether he meant it that way or not--is just looking to trip up and otherwise honest guy with an honest but unfortunate mishap in a place he was legally entitled to be.

[FireEMSPolice]

I wasn't in a safe place. I was stalled in the middle of the road with people passing on both sides. I called right away because I believe last year a vehicle was rear ended near that spot and a person killed.

Also hazards were on.

I understand the middle of the road isnt a safe place, but still no reason to call 911. Get some flares out, good that your hazards were on. You mentioned that traffic was already going around you. 911 is for life/death emergencies.

[LeGiOn]

Yeah get some flares out.. You know. In the middle of the Highway.

[hkuspclem40]

Not to change the subject of the original post, but.....I work road construction and no amount of yellow strobe lights, cones, barrels, flares, or four-way flashers slow people down or make them pay attention like a police cruiser. Motorists only show respect for a cop car on scene. The original poster did the right thing if he was stranded in the middle of a high traffic area. Most cops in the area I work in would rather sit behind your car with their lights on then have to deal with the aftermath of an accident.

[jemc02]

I have called 911 on a similar situation and let the operator decide if it is important enough to send someone over. By explaining the problem the way Daniel did he let them decide about sending an officer. I am sure that if everyone was tied up on more important calls the operator would have said that to let Daniel know that he was on his own until someone could have been freed up.....

[Bersa45]

Sounds like you thought it was a life or death situation,good job i would have done the same!! 911 works for drunk drivers that MAY hit someone

[MJK]

I would have called 911 too.

The 911 operator or the officers who responded would have told you if they didn't like you doing that.

I've actually called 911 for less urgent things before. If it needs police attention, I'm probably going to call 911. I don't always have the local PD's number on hand. I have never had a 911 operator complain about me doing this. Of course, this might be different in a larger city with a higher call volume.

I believe "0" or "1411" charges for the information, especially from a cell phone. Why should I pay additional fees to report something to the police? I already pay taxes to support 911.

[mrbones]

I live in a small town where
you can't call the local fire
or police any more about
any thing(cat in a tree,
teens out late being loud)
You must call 911 and go through
thier dispatch to get the locals.

[FireEMSPolice]

I live in a small town where
you can't call the local fire
or police any more about
any thing(cat in a tree,
teens out late being loud)
You must call 911 and go through
thier dispatch to get the locals.

Mingo Junction has about 3700 people. Jefferson County has about 74000 people. Not alot. Maybe your town has only 1 officer on duty at all times

[BEAR!]

Daniel;
Sounds to me like you handled everything well, good report.

[Harlie]

Why was a suggestion made to not call 911 unless it was "life or death" situation? It was to prevent a life or death situation, it would seem. No doubt that 911 is miss used and abused, but it appeared reasonable in this instance.