Uniformed Officer refused entry to polling place to vote

[Mermaid02]

This happened here in our town. The officer was on his beat in the area and decided to go in and vote. The election warden said he would have to surrender his weapon to the officer working in the polling area or he would not be allowed in. The officer refused and was turned away. The warden said it would be breaking the law to let him in. The secretary of state has said there is no such law pertaining to on duty law enforcement. What do you think?

 

[tlbwriter]

What do I think? I think either there is a law, or there isn't, and someone was simply misinformed. Doesn't really seem like a big deal to me, just a misunderstanding.

 

[Carly_Roach]

I think the polling place was well within their right to refuse entry to anyone with a weapon regardless of whether that PO was on-duty or not. Unless they were there to arrest a criminal they should have surrendered their weapon as asked if they were intending on voting or they should leave.

Think about it: if a PO is focusing on voting, that may be the split-second someone else would need to release the catch and take the PO's gun and perhaps start shooting. True, it's not a likely scenario, but the people responsible for the safety and welfare of the citizens voting didn't want to take a chance.

While there may not be a law against a fully uniformed officer voting as per the SOS, there may be laws covering the polling location such as no weapons inside schools.

The officer was in the wrong.

 

[golfgal]

This isn't about him being in uniform, it is about bringing a weapon into the polling place. So, hand over your weapon, go vote, pick up your weapon, big deal . How is it any different then him trying to bring a gun on a plane, into a federal building, etc.?

 

[Mermaid02]

What do I think? I think either there is a law, or there isn't, and someone was simply misinformed. Doesn't really seem like a big deal to me, just a misunderstanding.

That's what I thought- but I guess refusing to let someone in to vote is a pretty big deal.

 

[robinb]

Was he "on duty" while voting? Is that allowed? Or was he voting on his own time but still in uniform? Polling places are often set up in places that do not allow firearms (like schools).

 

[Arielle22]

I am sure there are rules about handing over your department issued weapon to someone who is not in the department. Not to mention being unarmed while on duty.

I think the warden overreacted. I imagine the officer could handle voting and keeping control of his sidearm since police are trained to keep control of their sidearm while in dangerous situations.

 

[Mermaid02]

I guess it was a big deal. I just went to our local paper and they fired him. http://www.bangordailynews.com/stor...ion-warden-dismissed-over-cop-gun-flap,157664

 

[Carly_Roach]

I am sure there are rules about handing over your department issued weapon to someone who is not in the department. Not to mention being unarmed while on duty.

I think the warden overreacted. I imagine the officer could handle voting and keeping control of his sidearm since police are trained to keep control of their sidearm while in dangerous situations.

But there's a whole other mindset officers reach for in dangerous situations as opposed to when they're filling out paperwork or talking to someone on the street. They're more alert and ready for someone to take their gun as opposed to discussing an upcoming event with a neighbor. I'm not saying they're lax in their attention on their gun, but it's not as heightened as it typically is.

If there are rules for bringing your sidearm into any establishment, then officers should be mindful of those rules and follow them just like anyone else would have to. If the PO was entering the establishment as a PO, then the sidearm is appropriate. But since he was entering the establishment as a civilian (to vote), he should be following the same rules for anyone entering that establishment.

I say this as a wife of PO who would very likely have surrendered his sidearm, locked it up in the car or (more liklely) waited until he was off-duty to vote in his civies.

 

[BCDisneyFanatic]

This happened here in our town. The officer was on his beat in the area and decided to go in and vote. The election warden said he would have to surrender his weapon to the officer working in the polling area or he would not be allowed in. The officer refused and was turned away. The warden said it would be breaking the law to let him in. The secretary of state has said there is no such law pertaining to on duty law enforcement. What do you think?

If he was "on duty", then he shouldn't have been voting, he should have been doing his job.

If he was on break, then he shouldn't have had a problem with surrendering his weapon while he was voting.

No one denied the officer the 'right to vote'. He had the choice of either surrendering the weapon and voting then and there, or returning to vote at a later time after his shift was over.

 

[Jennasis]

I SWEAR I thought it said UNINFORMED officer....well heck if they don't allow the uninformed to vote, their'd be no one!

 

[Mermaid02]

If he was "on duty", then he shouldn't have been voting, he should have been doing his job.

If he was on break, then he shouldn't have had a problem with surrendering his weapon while he was voting.

No one denied the officer the 'right to vote'. He had the choice of either surrendering the weapon and voting then and there, or returning to vote at a later time after his shift was over.

The Maine Seceretary of State disagrees with you. See my link above.

 

[golfgal]

Why do they have polling places open so early? Election Day is tomorrow.

 

[Mermaid02]

Why do they have polling places open so early? Election Day is tomorrow.

Maine is big on "early voting" we have been able to vote for a week already.

 

[dodukes]

I agree if he was working he shouldnt have been voting, sorry

 

[Mermaid02]

I agree if he was working he shouldnt have been voting, sorry

Apparently the police chief has no issue with it. I (as a tax paying citizen) have no issue with it either.

 

[robinb]

The Maine Seceretary of State disagrees with you. See my link above.

Of course, the Free Repuplic got a hold of this story and made a huge stink ...

 

[Mermaid02]

Of course, the Free Repuplic got a hold of this story and made a huge stink ...

It was all over the news here.... I don't know what the Free Repuplic is.......

 

[Magic Mom]

I am sure there are rules about handing over your department issued weapon to someone who is not in the department. Not to mention being unarmed while on duty.

I think the warden overreacted. I imagine the officer could handle voting and keeping control of his sidearm since police are trained to keep control of their sidearm while in dangerous situations.

This

 

[okeydokey]

Apparently the police chief has no issue with it. I (as a tax paying citizen) have no issue with it either.

well, you asked what we thought. Some think he shouldn't be voting, some think he should.