You always see it in Law and Order type progs after a perp has been shot. “I’ll need your gun.”
How long has this been the rule? I can’t imagine 19th century lawmen acting in this fashion. Is it universal throughout the US? Do some states or cities have different policies, allowing the lawman to keep his weapon while the shooting is investigated? Do small town sheriffs and deputies come under this rule?
First of all, TV has no direct bearing on reality (as I’m sure you’re aware). According to Denver’s officer-involved shooting protocol, the police officer is responsible for securing their weapon and then the weapon is given to crime lab personnel for testing. Then the police officer is issued a replacement weapon until theirs comes back from testing.
This, of course, is just for Denver. I have no idea when the practice started, although the Denver protocol was written in 2005.
the short answer is “So they can test whether what he is telling them is supported by the forensic evidence”. Good reason to use an issued weapon rather than a personally owned one, if the Department gives you a choice. You may lose it for months or years if litigation follows.
Because it’s evidence in a homicide investigation. And it’s reason enough to qualify with more than one weapon. Around here the crime lab is backed up for months!!
I always carried my own firearm. Some years ago I had a problem and it needed to be sent to the manufacturer. I was screwed as I hadn’t qualified with any other duty pistol! I had a .380 for off duty use I was qualified with, but I couldn’t carry that on patrol per written policy. I had to take a department weapon, hunt down the instructor and go through the re-cert course (6 hours) with it before I could work another shift! Pain in the butt!