When is a cop not a cop?

A little story about a situation that really happened in Colorado.

Reserve deputies in the Arapahoe County (Colo.) Sheriff's Posse in the mid-1970s were sworn peace officers. We had commissions that were good 24/7, and we were permitted to carry off-duty. We had all the powers that full-time, paid deputies had. We were trained and were authorized to make arrests. And we went to court, just like the full-time deputies.

There were only two differences. Our uniform trousers were tan, rather than blue. And we didn't get a paycheck. Oh, another difference. We bought our own uniforms, leather and weapon. And there was no uniform allowance.

One reserve deputy had worked as a reserve deputy in Dade County, Florida. Arapahoe County was a piece of cake after Dade County, he said.

In about 1976 a new sheriff came to town and, while he let us carry off-duty, he pulled our 24/7 commission. Thereafter, we were only on duty when we were in uniform. Some of us stopped carrying at that time. I also complained about commuting for duty, armed and in uniform, on my police-equipped harley-Davidson. I asked the sheriff what I was to do, if a citizen flagged me down and told me the bank was being robbed. Should I give the citizen a dime and tell him to call it in? After all, the rules were that I wasn't on duty until I got to the lot and picked up my portable radio.

One day this guy from Dade County walked into a convenience store while it was being robbed. He captured the robber at gunpoint and held him until the uniforms got there. Unfortunately for him, he "announced" himself, forgetting that the rules had changed. And the Department made his life miserable after that, even charging him.

So, what happened when (escapee) Henson was arrested? Was he first approached by someone with a gun who is not a deputy? It's just one of the rumors flying around that needs to be addressed and answered for the public.

And if he was approached by a non-law enforcement officer who brandished a weapon at him and threatened to blow his (you know the word) head off, is that a crime? It sure would be if I did it. And if pocket items were described as something else and classified as burglary tools, wouldn't that be a crime?