Assault Weapons for personal use by LEOs

[1911_sfca]

LEO's are exempt from buying a scary looking gun with a detachable magazine if they are full time and receive written authorization from their chief. Then they have to register the weapon with DOJ when they buy it from an authorized dealer. This is the only exemption they have with respect to CA AW laws.

Good post; only correction is that LEO does not need to be "full time" to be able to purchase an AW with permission from the Chief -- for instance, a Reserve Police Officer sworn under 830.6 PC could get a letter from their Chief / Sheriff and purchase an AW. Same is true for purchasing off-roster guns and large capacity mags, and possessing short-barreled rifles and shotguns on duty.

The main distinction in this area between "full-time, paid" police officers and reserve officers -- only the former can possess full-auto (assault rifles) while on duty and within the course and scope of their employment. Reserves are barred from possessing full-auto.

The other thing to think about: Regular, full-time sworn police don't lose their police powers or sworn status at the end of their shift.

Same is true of Designated Level 1 reserve officers. The Designated part refers to a city or county ordinance passed to allow the sheriff / chief to designate specific Level 1's with 24x7 peace officer powers per 830.1 PC.

[Ninety]

What are LEAs policy on the rifles? I know they all differ just curious what yours are.
Barrel Length?
Caliber?
Mag size?
Color?
Optics and accessories?

I'd venture to say they aren't much different then normal non leo rifles except no BB and standard capacity Mags, no pinned Break

[Rofocale]

ah ok. seems like there becomes alot of grey areas and confusion in firearm laws. just curious because this whole thread has turned weird. but very interesting from a citizen's point of view. looking into see how LEOs have to do things.

[Rofocale]

LEOs are allowed to own short barreled rifles or shotguns also? are they classified as short barreled rifle or shotgun under class III or they AOWs?

[Notorious]

Good post; only correction is that LEO does not need to be "full time" to be able to purchase an AW with permission from the Chief -- for instance, a Reserve Police Officer sworn under 830.6 PC could get a letter from their Chief / Sheriff and purchase an AW. Same is true for purchasing off-roster guns and large capacity mags, and possessing short-barreled rifles and shotguns on duty.

The main distinction in this area between "full-time, paid" police officers and reserve officers -- only the former can possess full-auto (assault rifles) while on duty and within the course and scope of their employment. Reserves are barred from possessing full-auto.

Same is true of Designated Level 1 reserve officers. The Designated part refers to a city or county ordinance passed to allow the sheriff / chief to designate specific Level 1's with 24x7 peace officer powers per 830.1 PC.

Unless it has changed... all the forms that I have seen for registering AW's for LEO's specify full-time LEO, not reserve LEO. I could be wrong, but never seen or heard of a reserve getting a letter for AW. Hope I am wrong, because the more the merrier in this state.

As for Level 1D reserves, the law is a bit grey on how it's done but it doesn't have to be a city charter or county ordinance, it can also be done by resolution or however else it is allowed by that specific governmental agency. POST website has an excellent section on reserve levels in their manual.

[Notorious]

LEOs are allowed to own short barreled rifles or shotguns also? are they classified as short barreled rifle or shotgun under class III or they AOWs?

No, only agencies are allowed to own them and they can issue them to the officer for use, even to keep and practice with, while off duty, but they are registered to the agency, not the officer.

[Rofocale]

ah ok makes sense the corporations owns the short barreled rifle/shotgun or machinegun for that matter. i was thinking damn i should have been a cop they get all the goodies and perks. drive in the carpool lane own short barreled weapons. but it's not a perfect world. still couldn't pay me enough to be a LEO. hats off to all the men and women who serve as LEOs.

[Notorious]

ah ok makes sense the corporations owns the short barreled rifle/shotgun or machinegun for that matter. i was thinking damn i should have been a cop they get all the goodies and perks. drive in the carpool lane own short barreled weapons. but it's not a perfect world. still couldn't pay me enough to be a LEO. hats off to all the men and women who serve as LEOs.

Cops get goodies and perks? Aside from being able to buy regular cap magazines and certain off list guns brand new from a dealer where you have to pay the taxes, what else is there?

Driving in a carpool lane? You serious?

[1911_sfca]

Unless it has changed... all the forms that I have seen for registering AW's for LEO's specify full-time LEO, not reserve LEO. I could be wrong, but never seen or heard of a reserve getting a letter for AW. Hope I am wrong, because the more the merrier in this state.

It is "qualifying Peace Officer" with a letter. Was PC 12280(f)(2); I haven't looked up the section in the reorganized code. Not sure which forms you are referring to, but the DOJ AW registration form is FD 023P, and doesn't say anything about "regular" or "full-time" -- at least not the 2004 version I used when I purchased and registered my Colt LE6920 patrol rifle as a Reserve. My department uses reserves to augment regular staffing and has a limited budget, so they occasionally authorize them to Level 1's.

As for Level 1D reserves, the law is a bit grey on how it's done but it doesn't have to be a city charter or county ordinance, it can also be done by resolution or however else it is allowed by that specific governmental agency. POST website has an excellent section on reserve levels in their manual.

Yes, could be ordinance or resolution. It's not really grey area -- see PC 830.6(2):

Whenever any qualified person is deputized or appointed by the
proper authority as a reserve [ . . . ] and is so designated by local ordinance
or, if the local agency is not authorized to act by ordinance, by
resolution, either individually or by class, and is assigned to the
prevention and detection of crime and the general enforcement of the
laws of this state by that authority, the person is a peace officer,
if the person qualifies as set forth in paragraph (1) of subdivision
(a) of Section 832.6. The authority of a person designated as a peace
officer pursuant to this paragraph includes the full powers and
duties of a peace officer as provided by Section 830.1.

Anyway this is a detour from the topic.. so back to your regularly scheduled program...

[Notorious]

The grey area is which legislative body can do it and how can they do it. There are reserves out there which are chartered by bodies other than municipalities and there hasn't been anything to my knowledge that only municipal reserves can be level 1D.

A body that cannot act by ordinance and has to do it by resolution would be other types of bodies other than city or counties, so it stands to reason that there would be level 1D reserves who are not muni cops.

[Rofocale]

cops get cold plates. and professional curiousity from other LEOs. they do a nasty job. but yes they do have perks. still couldn't pay me enough to do a job of a LEO.

[Notorious]

cops get cold plates. and professional curiousity from other LEOs. they do a nasty job. but yes they do have perks. still couldn't pay me enough to do a job of a LEO.

Cold plates? Like a cold cuts platter from your local deli? You mean confidential plates which just means your record is not accessible by those who have no business looking you up but which is easily compromised by criminals and their associates who work in the DMV?

As for professional curiosity... yeah, cops are curious about each other, and everything in general, it's in the nature of a cop to be inquisitive. That is what makes for a good cop.

Every job has its perks though... I wish I had the perks of a private jet like those enjoyed by corporate CEO's and certain politicans... or around the clock security like... the same corporate CEO's and certain politicians... or a take home car like a cabbie, or looking at naked women all day like a strip club DJ... or all the food you can eat like a fat food critic... but I chose my lot in life, and I don't begrudge or envy those who get theirs in life.

[TRICKSTER]

cops get cold plates. and professional curiousity from other LEOs. they do a nasty job. but yes they do have perks. still couldn't pay me enough to do a job of a LEO.

Trust me, there are plenty of agencies out there that do not believe in "professional courtesy". I know several LEO's that have been cited by other agencies.

[Notorious]

Trust me, there are plenty of agencies out there that do not believe in "professional courtesy". I know several LEO's that have been cited by other agencies.

Hey now, CHP ain't that bad, they've lightened up quite a bit.

[CaptMike]

LOL