LEO Visit To My Office -- Inform them of My CCL and weapon?

[w8asa]

I have had LEOs visit my office with appointments on occasion, and will continue to do so in the future. In every case, they are there on official LEO business. When they enter my office and I stand to greet them, am I required to inform them of my CHL and that I am armed? I am in Ohio.

I've looked online for an answer and not found one. Any help would be appreciated.

The reasons they are visiting me are immaterial to this discussion.

Thanks,
W8ASA

 

[kerb]

How does the law for your state read?

 

[Treo]

Does your state require notification ? if not no

 

[cmhbob]

I'd ask this over at OFCC. I think you'll get better advice there.

My inclination is no, you're not required. They're not *stopping* you for an LE purpose.

 

[Domineaux]

Visiting your property I would certainly hope you have no "duty to inform" but I'm not familiar with Ohio laws.
Generally speaking the "duty to inform" requirements are only on traffic or other "stops".

 

[revmedic]

I am not sure what happens in other states but in Wisconsin they mail a copy of the statute regarding CCL with a pretty comprehensive FAQ. Other than that Google is a great resource.

 

[XfNujNplhaib]

I wouldn't, unless asked to.

 

[momstar]

In MI, we have a duty to inform, but the details are somewhat vague. There was a time when a LEO came (on business) to a house I was visiting, and I did tell him, just after he arrived, that I have a CPL and was just giving him the standard notification. He said that was pretty much for traffic stops, but was glad I was up front about it. In the class I took to get the license, the lawyer talked about the gray areas, and said it's better to notify when you don't need to, than to get in trouble for not notifying - if Ohio law is as vague as ours, that's probably good advice.

 

[cc2xist]

You are required under Ohio law to notify any LEO who you have interaction with if it's an official LEO purpose.

 

[GLADad]

Ohio is a SHALL inform state, but the handbook on this website also says "If a person is stopped for a law enforcement purpose" I couldn't find anything about being in the present's of or anything else. You could always call your local sheriff's department and ask.

I got that info from this website Link Removed.gov/concealedcarrybook

 

[Axeanda45]

Any "Official" interaction with an LEO in OHIO meets the requirement to inform (IF you are armed and have a permit)..... So yes, you need to inform according to the "law"... Stupid thing about this "law" is, a criminal who is concealing has the RIGHT not to incriminate himself yet you, as a so-called "law-abiding citizen", who has jumped through all the "hoops", and "followed the rules" dont have the RIGHT not to incriminate yourself...... This is one of the reasons that the law is being challenged and hopefully changed soon.

 

[JJFlash]

Can you open carry in OH (or at your place of employment)? I can and do. Ergo, no need to inform anyone of anything. It's all right there. Yet another argument for open carry...

 

[NavyLCDR]

The reasons they are visiting me are immaterial to this discussion.

Thanks,
W8ASA

I would have to disagree with you. The reasons why they are visiting you are EXACTLY what determines whether or not you must inform in Ohio!

 

[longslide10]

I thought Ohio was trying to repeal the "must inform leo" charlie foxtrot. I think it's a ridiculous idea that whenever you see a cop ya have to run up and say "I am carrying a gun, wanna see my license". I am being slightly facetious btw.

 

[Nightmare45]

In Texas, property under my control or my private property, don't care what the officer likes or dislikes, unless he is there to arrest me or investigating a crime, as long as I am not the person, there is no requirement for me to inform, in fact any officer on my property without my permission is committing criminal trespass. Not typically a problem as I do a considerable amount of shooting with most of the guys in my area. Texas is a concealed carry state, but on my property for non criminal activity I don't have to inform and do not have to be concealed. As stated above the reason the officer is on your property is very important.

 

[tnpilot]

yet you, as a so-called "law-abiding citizen", who has jumped through all the "hoops", and "followed the rules" dont have the RIGHT not to incriminate yourself....

How is simply notifying LEO of the presence of your firearm viewed as "incriminating yourself" if you are carrying it legally?

 

[BC1]

I notify no one on my own property. Prosecute me.

 

[1funvet]

If it's concealed like it should be, i would not say anything.

 

[w8asa]

I would have to disagree with you. The reasons why they are visiting you are EXACTLY what determines whether or not you must inform in Ohio!

@NavyLCDR: I'm a retired 1635, BTW.

The actual reasons for the continuing series of visits IS NOT germaine to the discussion. I will say that they are not here to investigate or arrest me or anyone I know, but they are here on official LEO business.

So far, I am continuing place the firearm in a drawer when I know they are coming over (I always know ahead of time).

One night, my office security system was triggered by a spider walking across one of the sensors, and when I got out of my car to greet the three local policemen who had quickly showed up after being notified by the security company, I immediately informed them I was carrying, etc. All three thanked me for informing them, and that was the last time a firearm was mentioned. Respect and politeness earn beget the same.

This is turning out to be a very interesting discussion, and I hope it has made more people think ahead of time about what they will do in a particular situation.

I've also learned from a couple of PMs how important it is to know the laws of the states with which yours has a reciprocal agreement.

 

[NavyLCDR]

Nobody has mention this yet. The exact Ohio Revised Code in question is ORC 2923.12(B)(1)-(4):
Lawriter - ORC - 2923.12 Carrying concealed weapons.

(1) If the person is stopped for a law enforcement purpose and is carrying a concealed handgun, fail to promptly inform any law enforcement officer who approaches the person after the person has been stopped that the person has been issued a license or temporary emergency license to carry a concealed handgun and that the person then is carrying a concealed handgun;

(2) If the person is stopped for a law enforcement purpose and if the person is carrying a concealed handgun, knowingly fail to keep the person’s hands in plain sight at any time after any law enforcement officer begins approaching the person while stopped and before the law enforcement officer leaves, unless the failure is pursuant to and in accordance with directions given by a law enforcement officer;

(3) If the person is stopped for a law enforcement purpose, if the person is carrying a concealed handgun, and if the person is approached by any law enforcement officer while stopped, knowingly remove or attempt to remove the loaded handgun from the holster, pocket, or other place in which the person is carrying it, knowingly grasp or hold the loaded handgun, or knowingly have contact with the loaded handgun by touching it with the person’s hands or fingers at any time after the law enforcement officer begins approaching and before the law enforcement officer leaves, unless the person removes, attempts to remove, grasps, holds, or has contact with the loaded handgun pursuant to and in accordance with directions given by the law enforcement officer;

(4) If the person is stopped for a law enforcement purpose and if the person is carrying a concealed handgun, knowingly disregard or fail to comply with any lawful order of any law enforcement officer given while the person is stopped, including, but not limited to, a specific order to the person to keep the person’s hands in plain sight.

Our OP has not been STOPPED for a law enforcement purpose, therefore the duty to inform does not apply. The OP is meeting with LEO by appointment in his office - completely 100% different circumstance than being stopped.