Cop in baltimore maryland

Esav Benyamin said:
fan review: best police drama ever aired. follow the homicide dept of baltimore md as they investigate charm city's worst crimes.
Homicide: Life on the Street. I was addicted to that show. A little scared to go through Baltimore, though. :)
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Baltimore has it's share of rough areas. My best advice to the OP would be to talk to your new colleagues and find out what they use. But let us know if you find out the particulars of the local laws. Thanks. :)
 
dttomcat said:
Local laws in the City of Baltimore prohibit individuals from carrying (and perhaps even possessing) autos. I am not sure if there is an exception mad e for LEOs but I think there may be. Let us know what you find please? Thanks and be safe in Charm City. -DT
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Thanks for reminding me of that. Here is Baltimore's law:

§ 59-22. Switch-blade knives.
(a) Possession or sale, etc., prohibited.
It shall be unlawful for any person to sell, carry, or possess any knife with an automatic spring or
other device for opening and/or closing the blade, commonly known as a switch-blade knife.
(b) Penalties.
Any person violating the provisions of this section, shall, upon conviction thereof, be fined not
more than $500 or be imprisoned for not more than 1 year, or both, in the discretion of the court.
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http://www.baltimorecity.gov/Portals/0/Charter and Codes/Code/Art 19 - PoliceOrds.pdf

As you can see, no exception for LEO. Now, state law allows folders of any size. Fixed-blades are a gray area for concealed, but perfectly OK to open carry and that law does contain an exception for LEOs on duty.
 
I would consult your future brothers and sisters in arms, and they are not always right about the law.

Baltimore has some good spots, stressing some. I work about a mile or two from the city line, and if you go a couple blocks further, you are asking for trouble.

Do you know if you will be in a patrol car, walking a beat?
 
The spyderco fixed blade looks nice as well. IV heard before that police in alot of places are not permitted to carry fixed blades so ill have to see if I can even carry one. And IV heard that alot of places let cops carry autos even when it wouldn't normally be aloud but I don't know how valid either of those things are. I will certainly update this thread when I get more info.
 
Yea my buddy that is already an officer works in what he calls the gettoh. Haha. I will be in a cruiser mostly but he said they also do some walking
 
EMcDannell said:
I've heard that a lot of places let cops carry autos even when it wouldn't normally be aloud but I don't know how valid either of those things are.
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That is potentially true in other parts of Maryland and other states for that matter, as there are provisions in law that make that exception for LEO. However, Baltimore city law specifically prohibits autos for everyone (remember, the laws "stack" so to speak) and provides no exceptions. If a Baltimore dept. allowed carrying autos for it's officers anyway, they would be lawbreakers all the same, not to mention they would be setting a horrible moral example (the symbol and enforcer of laws they themselves violate).
 
in ca, a department's policy would provide the exemption, similar as it does for class 3 firearms.
 
EMcDannell said:
So to clarify, in CA anyway, if the departments policy says you can carry an auto that overrides the "no autos for anyone" law?
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653(k)PC does not actually prohibit all autos.

autos with blades under 2" are legal to own and carry. autos with larger blades are legal to own but not carry.

there is a penal code section (i'll have to look it up) that basically says an officer may carry equipment necessary for duty use as per department policy. so otherwise prohibited items become "legal".

our policy actually prohibits autos and fixed blades.
 
and, for example, both los angeles city and los angeles county restrict blade length to 3" for open carry. there is not law enforcement exemption.

the exemption is for "lawful occupation". our policy allows for open carry of folders (clipped to pants pocket) of folders with up to 4" blades. this essentially overrides the muni and county codes.
 
These are my choices, bear in mind I am a cheapskate and would never beat up expensive knives (Emerson) at work unless they were issued to me. You can get all four for 150.00 or slightly less.
Medium sized Leatherman
Spartan Swiss army knife
Hard use knife: Cold Steel American Lawman.
Back-up weapon: Kabar TDI or Cold Steel Safe Maker:cool:
 
4 knives is kinda overkill dontcha think? If you are the new guy, why go out of your way to make people think you are silly?
 
I did not want to start a new thread and I saw MD in this one and that is where I reside. I have had two assisted opening knives taken from me by the police. The last one was two days ago and I stated MD code 4-101 and that just seemed to piss him off. I have all of his information. The question is should I make a big stink about this?
 
HATORI HANZO said:
I did not want to start a new thread and I saw MD in this one and that is where I reside. I have had two assisted opening knives taken from me by the police. The last one was two days ago and I stated MD code 4-101 and that just seemed to piss him off. I have all of his information. The question is should I make a big stink about this?
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start a new thread.

the intent of this thread is to assist a member who is entering a law enforcement career.
 
dougshoe said:
4 knives is kinda overkill dontcha think? If you are the new guy, why go out of your way to make people think you are silly?
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I never said I intended to carry four knives I said I was told by an officer that some guys carry 3 or 4 knives. All I'm asking about is what types of knife I can carry. Seeing as how you are a new guy on these forums( as am I) why did you want to make your self look silly by saying things without reading my post. Not really sure why you would reply to a thread argue a point that I have already said I agree with. I'm not going in to this thinking I'm going to be getting in crazy shoot outs or knife fights on a daily bases in fact I hope I never have to be part of such a thing. I just want to make sure that if it happens that I need a knife to defend myself I am well prepared and that I'm not going to lose my job over the tool I carried in order to be prepared.
 
EMcDannell said:
I never said I intended to carry four knives I said I was told by an officer that some guys carry 3 or 4 knives. All I'm asking about is what types of knife I can carry. Seeing as how you are a new guy on these forums( as am I) why did you want to make your self look silly by saying things without reading my post. Not really sure why you would reply to a thread argue a point that I have already said I agree with. I'm not going in to this thinking I'm going to be getting in crazy shoot outs or knife fights on a daily bases in fact I hope I never have to be part of such a thing. I just want to make sure that if it happens that I need a knife to defend myself I am well prepared and that I'm not going to lose my job over the tool I carried in order to be prepared.
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don't worry about it.

like i said, counting saks/multi tools, i carry 4.

have and not need vs. need and not have.

the poster doesn't know anything.
 
If you look at my choices they are all light/compact and easy to carry. Having a Swiss Army knife and a leatherman available while on patrol is a no-brainer, and shouldn't require any explanation. Having a work knife and a sharp, light and accessable back-up weapon seems like the smart thing to do when your life may depend on it. If you (Dougshoe) were concerned about what other people thought about you, you could always leave the leatherman and the hard use knife in the patrol car until you actually needed them.:rolleyes:
 
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I carry a spyderco endura in my bullet proof vest, a hide away knife in my boot and a leatherman wave on my belt.

The hide away knife is very nice and compact and with two fingers inside the handle the knife is not going anywhere, even better than the TDI from kabar, plus it is made in america and reasonably priced in the 440C steel.
The hide away knife in my boot is for emergencies if I am rolling around on the ground with someone and I cannot reach my belt.

The endura is my regular knife for various cutting issues. By keeping it in my vest inside my shirt keeps it out of view so if a suspect is wrestling with me he won't likely find it to grab it. A lot of cops carry their knives in a pants pocket. Easy to grab but also easy to grab for a suspect.

The leatherman well obviously does everything a knife cannot in a handy small package.

But seriously, check out out hideaway knives, very concealable, very good retention characteristics and good size blade in a small package.
 
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