Conservation Officers Carry Sidearms!?!?

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gyates93

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I ran into a CO this evening in Tims, and the first thing I noticed was the soft armor vest, and then the handgun.:eek:

What's the rationale behind this!?

The only possible (legitimate) use I can see for the sidearm is to make away with a moose or something struck on the side of the road.. But a 12ga or .30-30 in the truck would seem to be a much better tool for this task..

I don't think that soft vest is going to stop a .308 or .30-06 round, and if that handgun is for defense against crazed hunters, I should be allowed to carry one too!

What's up with this? I haven't met many wildlife officers in the woods, but I've NEVER met one that was armed as such.
 
Concidering that a bad run in with a CO can see a guy losing his car, gun, trailer, atv, testicles, and home, a sidearm isn't a bad idea.
 
A Poacher that get's caught is not likely willing to give up his truck, gun etc.
He may become confrontational with a lone C.O.
Manitoba C.O.'s have been packin' for several years now.
 
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CO's actually have a very high incidance of being assaulted. A lot of poachers do resist (anglers too). And they have carried sidearms in Ontario as long as I can remember.(1 week maybe 2):D
 
Going back as far as the late 70's, I don't ever remember CO's not having sidearms.
Considering they usually work alone in remote areas enforcing the law with 'clients' that you would expect to be armed why wouldn't they have body armour and sidearms??
 
Canuck223 said:
Concidering that a bad run in with a CO can see a guy losing his car, gun, trailer, atv, testicles, and home, a sidearm isn't a bad idea.
Click to expand...

Exactly, a few years before they armed the NS COs a couple of them responded to a couple of deer jackers. They were fired at for a few minutes while they took cover in an old barn. Luckily for them the jackers did not close in and kill them.

As for the soft body armour. Upwards of 50% of law enforcement officers who are shot are shot with their own pistols after losing a struggle with one or more dirt bags.
 
.... In BC both Fisheries Officers and Conservation Officers carry sidearms. The big push to arm both came in the 70's when there were a number of "incidents" notably, in the Lower portion, of the Fraser River. ....... It should also be noted that COs often are operating alone in VERY Isolated areas, and "back-up" is nothing more than wishful thinking. ...... The potential fines and property loss can be VERY high, thus providing a ready motive to "deal with the threat" by violent means ! ...... Having actively participated in a number of both Fisheries and Game checks, over the years, personally, I've found both Hunters and Fishermen, nothing but easy and very pleasant to deal with ! ...... David K
 
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