Off duty threats?

[Hudson69]

This came up recently (in talk only). The subject was how would we/I handle threats to our family/significant others when we are off duty. Threats specifically aimed at us with the idea being it was coming from someone we had arrested or interfered with as a result of us being in law enforcement.

What would you do if your wife/husband got a visit/letter/other or phone calls telling you where your kids were, what schools they go to or something similar?

Non LEO's feel free to chime in if you have had something like this come up.

 

[jks9199]

Make sure it's reported properly, both at your agency and at home (after all, lots of us don't live where we work!). Let someone uninvolved do the actual investigation -- which should be a very serious and thorough investigation. Make sure that schools and employers are aware of the concern, as well.

With the family -- it's time to advise and review safety procedures. Randomize the routes, call in any suspicious persons, etc.

The real challenge is to hold yourself back from going off half-cocked chasing down the guy, whether the threats stemmed from your job or something else. Taken was a pretty neat movie -- but the reality is that most of us are not capable of being objective enough to do a good investigation, and teeing off on the guy yourself just plays into their hands. After all, if you're locked up or suspended you can't do anything to protect your family.

 

[harold]

Make sure it's reported properly, both at your agency and at home (after all, lots of us don't live where we work!). Let someone uninvolved do the actual investigation -- which should be a very serious and thorough investigation. Make sure that schools and employers are aware of the concern, as well.

With the family -- it's time to advise and review safety procedures. Randomize the routes, call in any suspicious persons, etc.

The real challenge is to hold yourself back from going off half-cocked chasing down the guy, whether the threats stemmed from your job or something else. Taken was a pretty neat movie -- but the reality is that most of us are not capable of being objective enough to do a good investigation, and teeing off on the guy yourself just plays into their hands. After all, if you're locked up or suspended you can't do anything to protect your family.

That pretty much sums it up. I would only add to have a p.o. box for your mail although most LEOS already do that. Also, put real estate,utilities,phone bill,vehicle registration in the wife's maiden name to minimize the risk of you being found. With the interent,it is so easy to get that information.

 

[Disco]

Although the advice already given is the standard protocol for this, there is/are other things to consider. Because the OP included the word "visit", to me, this has already put this in a different realm. First and foremost, you should/have to know just who your dealing with and just how forthright they are with carrying out any or all threats. They have already shown up physically at your door step and that alone sets it into a more serious phase. Sometimes, to protect family, one really can't wait on the slow wheels of investigation to fully turn and be able to protect. If you can relocate the family (temporary) to another location to safeguard them, then you just may have to be proactive to protect. In today's world, were dealing with a much different criminal mindset. The old adage of "don't kill a cop" doesn't play anymore and family is fair game. Years ago all this was unheard of, but with the money and power of the drug cartels and gangs and even terrorists actions, all play a part in the mindset of the criminal world. They really have no fear and will go after anyone to reach their end results. I realize this all sounds like a cheap movie plot, but today's world has seriously changed. Just the other week, two teenagers attacked an officer in broad daylight, with a AK47, because their father was being arrested for DUI. They came out of the house and just blasted away. The officer was hit 4 times, but thankfully survived. If their willing to go to that extreme for a DUI, just think what they'll do with some time to formulate a plan and have that time to carry it out. If and when the sxxt hits the fan, they'll just run back to Mexico, Vietnam, Columbia or whatever country they came from and we can't do a damn thing about it. "Were not in Kansas anymore Toto!................