Habits of off-duty police officers

Leaving my personal vehicle running when I arrive at the store and trying to lock it with the fob after getting out, only to realize it is my personal car.

Driving through town late at night I scan businesses looking for lights on or suspiciously parked vehicles. I will also look at deadbolts when approaching a business to see if the door is locked.

When using a power drill I keep my finger outside the trigger guard until I’m ready to use it.

When eating out, my wife knows to wait until I check out potential areas of cover and concealment and look for a table where I can face toward the main entrance and ask for seating closest to the emergency exit. Asking for this criteria, I’ve often got some puzzled looks from the staff. My wife now just says, “He a retired police officer…I go through this every time we eat out.”

Going to rest my hands on my mag carrier (front left) and my OC pouch (front right) then realizing there is nothing there, and I just look like a goofball holding my belt line.

I keep an eye on the fast food employees to make sure they don’t spit in my food.

I check the roofs and walk close to the wall.

Still will not cross an overpass in the number 1 lane if I cant clearly see on the other side…been to too many DUI head-on accidents. Have passed this tip down to all of my adult children.

I’m still in “patrol mode” while off duty. I’m always scanning left and right while driving looking for anything suspicious or out of place. I’ve also been known to drive my wife’s mini-van like a patrol car and do a U-turn on a 4-lane road with a center turn lane if I miss a turn.

Analyzing every collision I come across to figure out its dynamics and who was at fault.

Still back into parking spaces so I can easily see oncoming lot traffic if I need to leave quickly, instead of having to slowly back out to leave. Also, a criminal habit for thieves at banks, malls, chain stores…but a driver stays in the car.

I’ve been retired for seven years now. I still will not sit at a restaurant with my back to the door or will not sit in a booth. I’m fortunate my wife understands and always asks for a table. My head is always on a swivel which makes me look suspicious at times. My wife knows my faces and knows when I’ve seen something suspicious and is great to follow my tactical lead.

When using a public urinal, I continue to stand at a slight angle where I can still catch a view of people approaching.

While riding shotgun in a golf cart I’m checking for traffic and advise, “Clear right.”

If I enter a room where the door opens in, I immediately check behind the door.

When stopping in traffic, I leave enough space between my car and the car in front of me so I can see the bottom of their rear tires for any movement just in case they decide to “reverse ram” me, or back up before exiting the lane to escape.

After being involved in law enforcement for close to 30+ years, l still stay up to almost day break when l shouldn’t at age 74.

Making several passes through the parking lot at a store before finding a parking spot just drives my wife crazy.

When I enter a store, if I see a person I consider acting suspicious, I try to watch to determine strong hand and stay on that side in case anything happens. I also sit back to the wall in restaurants and don’t parallel stop in traffic and leave myself room at a stop. I also taught my niece and her two brothers the same safety ideas.

Just about all of the above-mentioned habits, but I am also trying to get used to having people get behind me. I turn around and watch them, or let them go by.

Reaching over to flip my nonexistent lights off duty when someone runs a stop sign in front of me.

When I go to a restaurant I sit with my back toward a wall in a place so I have full visibility of the door and from where I can watch what is going on in the dining room. I have a couple of friends who get very concerned when I stand up without telling them where I am going. They know if I stand up and/or pull out my weapon they have to duck under the table. We can laugh about our habits but they keep us and our loved ones alive.

As a mental health warrant officer for 25 years, I tend to study people’s speech and behavior while having a simple conversation.

If I am getting something from the back of a store, before I walk back up front to the cashier, I take a position of advantage to see who’s up there and what’s going on for a minute before walking up with my purchase. Sometimes I get strange looks from people wondering who is this guy standing there behind a counter or shelf just scanning the cash register area.

Watching people watching me. I always think they can “see” me as a cop, and for some reason, they always ask me questions in stores, like I work there. I am either nice, or I look like a Target clerk.

Dispatchers do it too! I’ve been retired for three years, and still see license plates in phonetics: “Edward John Robert…”

While driving, reaching out to rest my left hand on the spotlight handle.

Stopping before exiting a building to check for anyone loitering in the shadows.

When off duty and see a vehicle in the opposite direction speeding, I would reach for the radar remote that I usually kept in the seat between my legs.

Every time I exit my personally owned vehicle I reach for my belt line to turn on my portable radio, which isn’t there.

When I’m a passenger I always call out “clear right” after I check traffic when entering an intersection.

Whenever I pass vehicles, I check for out-of-date validation stickers, cell phone use and seat belts. I also make note of plate numbers of suspicious vehicles.

When needing to go to the bathroom while driving off duty, I will pass gas stations just to get to the ones with the kids changing tables in the stalls only to remember I am off duty and don’t have my duty gear on.

When speaking to a person, I turn my strong side away from them and stay at least an arms-length from them.

Before I enter a store or restaurant, I scan the place as best I can before going in. Once in, I look for exits and cover vs concealment. I then check out everyone in the store to observe body language that could indicate potential robbery and theft suspects.

I scan a room before entering to the point where others say, “What are you waiting for?”

Having a conversation with someone and only making eye contact after I have found every exit in a room.

Even after being off the job for 10 years, I have to admit that If I’m standing next to a vehicle, I still check the registrations and inspection stickers and, if expired, I might even bring it to the driver’s attention. And in case you were wondering, no one has ever not appreciated it! LOL, hey what can I say, I’m retired, not dead.😝

I am always scanning up in the trees when I walk at night. I had a bat dive bomb me while I was on bike patrol at night. It scared the crap out of me!

Some days when I’m off I’ll still hear triple beeps or dispatch saying my call sign. It’s faint but enough to make me tilt my head down to get a better listen even though I don’t have my radio.

I still use “5150” and some radio codes, either in my mind or aloud, which gets me puzzled looks.

I reach for the radar remote control when a vehicle is approaching me and I realize I’m off duty and don’t have a radar in my personal vehicle.

Been retired 13 yrs now after 36 yrs service. Before entering a store, always scan inside the store to see who’s where and what they’re doing.

I still choose shirts and jackets based on how well they conceal my gun. Even though 40 years of carrying on my right hip has played hell with my sciatica, I feel lazy and irresponsible if I leave the house unarmed.

I mentally correct the spelling and syntax of every article or post I read.

Now retired, but after 25 years of 2nd and 3rd shift, I cannot change my sleep pattern back to normal. I’m getting better and have been going to bed about 0300-0400. My family can’t stand me using military time on all my clocks and I had the hardest time not signing my name with D/S in front of it.

Checking the odometer in my personal vehicle when I stop for gas.

Occasionally, if the TV or radio volume is too low or I missed what was said, I lean my head to my left shoulder to get closer to the mic that is not there and reach to my left hip for the volume button that is not there.

1) I still look for valid license plates. 2) I make eye contact with everybody entering the room. 3) I never go anywhere unarmed.

Always looking toward my center dash to read the radar detector for the oncoming vehicle that I know is speeding way over the limit.

Always watching people and their hands and clothing for abnormal bulges. Stopping far enough back of another car in case I get hit in the rear or need to get out suddenly. Keeping my head on a swivel at all times. Sitting with my back to the wall and watching people all the time. This comes from 32 years in the Baltimore City Police Department.

Always checking to see if my back-up weapon is still on my ankle. Stand with my back to my car when fueling at a gas station.

Still sleep with a notepad and pen on my nightstand even though since I’ve been retired for two years, I’m not on standby anymore.

Among several already mentioned, after 27 years on the job, I can’t remember the last time I used a urinal in a public restroom. Always a stall with the door shut and locked. LOL!

Been retired for 43 years and when looking at a photograph of me, I realize that both arms are extended outward as clearances for Sam Brown, a service weapon and all the paraphernalia around my waist.