Action News Jax has learned Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office released a memorandum about its policies on how to handle a person carrying a weapon. It follows a recent incident when a driver’s gun went off during a traffic stop.
READ: Driver hurt during gunshot at JSO traffic stop
The memorandum details what an officer should and should not do when someone has a gun concerning the concealed carry laws.
“Things have changed, formally you couldn’t have a concealed firearm unless you had a permit,” law and safety expert Dale Carson said. “Today you can carry a concealed firearm without a permit.”
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The memo is dated Dec. 18, which is just five days after a gun unexpectedly discharged when a JSO officer stopped someone for running a red light.
On Dec. 13, detectives said a driver who was cooperating with police and had told the officer they had a gun. So, the officer reportedly asked the driver to get out of the car, and the officer tried grabbing the gun, but it discharged unexpectedly.
A source said the officer was stripped of all her regular duties, including taking away her car, gun, and badge.
“Reaching for someone’s handgun is a huge problem because you don’t know how they have it secured, if they secured it properly, if they know anything about gun safety,” Carson said.
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Carson worked as an FBI agent and has decades of law enforcement experience.
He said before these new laws about concealed carry, officers were allowed to arrest someone for having a weapon, but now that’s changed.
Last July, a new law took effect saying people are allowed to carry a gun without a permit.
And in this document, JSO said just because “a person is carrying a concealed firearm does not automatically mean that person poses a threat.” It goes on to say an officer “should not seize a firearm from someone lawfully carrying it.”
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“The memo is not the solution; the solution is training,” Carson said. “Memos are written to protect administrators.”
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The memo also said someone with a gun may pose a threat if they match the suspect of a crime, leave a known drug house, or is verbally aggressive towards people.
But Carson said things are subject to change and the memo should be clearer.
“It can’t be clear because everyone’s circumstance is different and every behavior with a law enforcement officer is different and so you don’t get that fine line on how to behave or what to do,” Carson said.
The officer has not been named because JSO said it’s not considered an officer-involved shooting. The incident is still under investigation.
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