Steven Hildreth Jr took to writing what had happened o him on his Facebook profile after he was pulled over by Tucson P*olice Department as he was driving.
Steven was driving with a broken headlight and thought that was the main reason for stopping him.
However, the o*fficer began straight away by asking him if he had any w*eapons. Steven Hildreth Jr. told him that he had a g*un on his right hip and that he was a concealed carry permit holder.
Since Steven’s wallet that had his identity card in his back-right pocket, the o*fficer told him that he had to be disarmed so that he can check it. Hildreth wanted everyone to know what happened on his Facebook profile.
Hildreth’s post has since been shared nearly 400,000 times
So, I'm driving to my office to turn in my weekly paperwork. A headlight is out. I see a Tucson P*olice Department squad vehicle turn around and follow me. I'm already preparing for the stop.
The lights go on and I pull over. The o*fficer asks me how I'm doing, and then asks if I have any w*eapons.
“Yes, sir. I'm a concealed carry permit holder and my w*eapon is located on my right hip. My wallet is in my back-right pocket.”
The o*fficer explains for his safety and mine, he needs to disa*rm me for the stop. I understand, and I unlock the vehicle. I explain that I'm running a 7TS ALS holster but from the angle, the second o*fficer can't unholster it. Lead o*fficer asks me to step out, and I do so slowly.
O*fficer relieves me of my Glock and compliments the X300U I'm running on it. He also sees my military ID and I tell him I'm with the National Guard.
Lead o*fficer points out my registration card is out of date but he knows my registration is up to date. He goes back to run my license. I know he's got me on at least two infractions. I'm thinking of how to pay them.
O*fficers return with my Glock in an evidence back, locked and cleared.
“Because you were cool with us and didn't give us grief, I'm just going to leave it at a verbal warning. Get that headlight fixed as soon as possible.”
I smile. “Thank you, sir.”
I'm a black man wearing a hoodie and strapped. According to certain social movements, I shouldn't be alive right now because the p*olice are allegedly out to k*ill minorities.
Maybe…just maybe…that notion is bunk.
Maybe if you treat p*olice o*fficers with respect, they will do the same to you.
P*olice officers are people, too. By far and large, most are good people and they're not out to get you.
I'd like to thank those two officers and TPD in general for another professional contact.
We talk so much about the bad apples who shouldn't be wearing a badge. I'd like to spread the word about an example of men who earned their badges and exemplify what that badge stands for.
