This Facebook post about an young man being stopped and disarmed by the police from a few days ago is going viral… but not for the reasons you may think.
Steven Hildreth, Jr says he was pulled over by the Tucson police for having a busted headlight.
When the police asked him about weapons he may have, Hildreth told the two officers about the concealed pistol he had, and for their safety the officers temporarily disarmed him. Here’s what happened next:
So, I’m driving to my office to turn in my weekly paperwork. A headlight is out. I see a Tucson Police Department squad vehicle turn around and follow me. I’m already preparing for the stop.
The lights go on and I pull over. The officer asks me how I’m doing, and then asks if I have any weapons.
“Yes, sir. I’m a concealed carry permit holder and my weapon is located on my right hip. My wallet is in my back-right pocket.”
The officer explains for his safety and mine, he needs to disarm me for the stop. I understand, and I unlock the vehicle. I explain that I’m running a 7TS ALS holster but from the angle, the second officer can’t unholster it. Lead officer asks me to step out, and I do so slowly. Officer relieves me of my Glock and compliments the X300U I’m running on it. He also sees my military ID and I tell him I’m with the National Guard.
Lead officer points out my registration card is out of date but he knows my registration is up to date. He goes back to run my license. I know he’s got me on at least two infractions. I’m thinking of how to pay them.
Officers return with my Glock in an evidence back, locked and cleared. “Because you were cool with us and didn’t give us grief, I’m just going to leave it at a verbal warning. Get that headlight fixed as soon as possible.”
I smile. “Thank you, sir.”
I’m a black man wearing a hoodie and strapped. According to certain social movements, I shouldn’t be alive right now because the police are allegedly out to kill minorities.
Maybe…just maybe…that notion is bunk.
Maybe if you treat police officers with respect, they will do the same to you.
Police officers are people, too. By far and large, most are good people and they’re not out to get you.
I’d like to thank those two officers and TPD in general for another professional contact.
We talk so much about the bad apples who shouldn’t be wearing a badge. I’d like to spread the word about an example of men who earned their badges and exemplify what that badge stands for.
#BlueLivesMatter #AllLivesMatter
[EDIT: In my rush to post, I accidentally omitted that my wallet was in the back-right pocket, near my firearm. This was the primary motivation for temporary disarmament. The post has been modified to reflect that.
Again, I’d like to thank the TPD and their officers for their consistent professionalism, courtesy, and the good work that they do, both in this particular contact and every day.]
Here’s his original Facebook post.
I’m really proud of the fact that this gentleman took the time to praise the officers on their professional conduct when he was pullover. If he would’ve handle this situation any different, the outcome could’ve been tragic. Yes, people need to know that respect goes both ways.
i am really happy to see this man took the time to post this. this is what a responsible citizen is, responsible police is.black lives matter,blue lives matter, all lives matter!
Visions do not speak, actions do. That you for reminding us that people are just people if you give it a chance.
Yes, this is just another reminder that many of the incidents that end tragically or brought upon by the victim him/herself. Why do I say that? Because if you check out their history you will most likely find that these people are not or have not ever wanted to submit to those in authority over them, and that includes their very own parents as well. They develop an unhealthy attitude towards police or any law enforcement representatives. If you have nothing to hide, or you’ve done nothing wrong and treat any representative of law enforcement with the respect they deserve, you will not be killed. Don’t forget, many of these law enforcement people make very little wages for the type of life they live. Every day that they walk out of their homes both they and their family have to live with the fact that they may not come back home alive that day. Every day they are putting their lives at risk to protect the public from wrong doers. How many of us have the courage to do that while trying to raise a family and maintain balance in a marriage with all the corruption, unfairness, & gory things these people see day in and day out? These folks are our every day heros and all they get is a lot of grief from groups with hidden agendas and from those who are always crying wolfe, and don’t deserve their protection. Yes, there could be some who shouldn’t be police officers as not everyone is cut out for the life but they get weeding out eventually through their own internal system. I say we should love, honor and respect these selfless people to the utmost. And the creeps who are not law abiding citizens who always cry wolfe deserve what they get!
There are still a lot of good police officers around.
Unfortunately, it’s the bad ones that get all of the press.