Sheriff's Office and MSP, along with other agencies have the authority to carry and use their off duty weapons. A police officer is never off duty. Just not being paid after his shift is over. Also, Congress passed a Bill that was signed in to law which allows retired Federal Law Enforcement Officers in good standing to carry weapons as well. Under Maryland law, they have to certify their knowledge in the proper use of their weapons. I didn't see anything the off duty officers did wrong. And it looks like they caught the bad guy. I agree with what everyone was saying in this thread that you are more interested in selling your product than understanding the law.
As for the FORMER cop that was drunk and got in to a fight, he was in the wrong, which everyone agreed. He was fired as soon as he could have been fired after the internal investigation was completed. No need to see pictures of something that is a sad chapter in the Sheriff's Office when they have books and VOLUMES of OUTSTANDING work that these men and women do every single day. In fact, I will go beyond that, I will challange any of you that reads this thread to ride on patrol with a police officer to get a better understanding of what they do. Then come back and give us a new thread of what your experience was. T Bone and Heather did that in another County which they mentioned on their radio. Not sure why they went to another County when they could have done it here. But, their experience was a positive one in P.G. County.
I am proud of our men and women in law enforcement. They do one heck of a job under very difficult circumstances. And by the way, if you ever get a better understanding of what they do, which I doubt, you will understand that they don't get paid nearly enough either. Not even close. But, most of them like what they do.
smiley. Everyone thinks you were serious. 
