What are the rules when alcohol is involved? I saw a similar thing happen at a casino in West Virginia except the 'officer' involved was clearly inebriated (they had to cut her off). I was a little freaked out but the rest of the table didn't seem to care.

Alcohol has no bearing even some undercover officers have to drink while doing their work. Drinking is not against the law. I carry everywhere I go and I am a retired officer but carry a retirement ID and badge with the same rights as an active duty officer

I think the question is this: what are the consequences if you have been drinking while carrying and then flash your piece, even if you think it's a joke?

This thread's really gotta die. Interesting situation, but OP posted it a week after it happened, meaning there's next to nothing that can be done about it ..... and it's unlikely to ever happen to him again, or anyone here for that matter. Really not helping anyone to argue for days over how kosher it is for someone to flash the gun.

Because you are the final arbiter of what should and should not be discussed? You might try clicking here.

There now, isn't that better?

It was simply a comment based on what everyone can clearly see is happening in the thread. No one is under any obligation to listen to a word I say, they're simply my thoughts on the matter. Any reason you're so irate about it? Did you walk down the aisle with this thread last week? Why do you care?

Drinking is not against the law and an officer is not required to carry conceal like a citizen with a concealed carry permit does. A joke is all it was I hear jokes all the time just opening his coat is upsetting some people but everyone that knows him knew he was carrying anyway.

First, why are you asking two-plus-two members? This is a question for you, your employer, the cop that flashed his firearm, and the Police. I would not alert hotel security to this, as they're typically rent a cops, and wouldn't handle it as graciously as yourself or your poker room manager.

This off duty cop may be cool, but flashing his gun is such bad judgment it counters any attempt at being cute or funny. I know a lot of cops, and they would be shocked to learn that someone did this in a public place like a casino. It's the kind of thing they might do at a buddy's home game (and among their own), but not in a Las Vegas casino - it's poor judgment. And a cop using poor judgment on (or off) duty, is NOT GOOD.

You definitely should have brought it to the attention of the room manager, and maybe as a courtesy, informed the cop as he was getting up to leave, that even though you know he was joking, you were obligated to inform the room manager of the occurrence. This covers you in almost every way.

First, you're not making a big deal of it at the table. Second, you're saying in a subtle way, "DUDE, what are you doing"? Third, by advising him before he leaves that his action will be reviewed and discussed by management, give him the option of fessing up in advance of anyone else, and diffusing the situation on his own. And lastly, it COVERS YOUR ASS, in the unlikely event that this dude ever mixes it up and oversteps his off-duty authority with another patron in the future, if/when he goes on tilt.

Any combination of the above would have been better than the way you handled it. And I mean, it sounds like you have more experience that anyone in this two-plus-two members about how to handle the situation - so I really don't know why you brought this up here??

DON'T EVER ASSUME that because you know he's a cop, it's all good. There's bad apples in every department, they're on the news all the time, and you don't want to be the guy that gave a pass to a cop that went postal one day, and caught everyone by surprise.

If you work at a Strip casino, you'd likely be fired for waiting, and not reporting when it first occurred. So now you gotta live with your decision that was a poor one.

this is an absolutely idiotic post, and couldn't be more wrong.

There's a myriad of things that can be done (even a week later) to make sure this cop uses better judgment in the future. Nothing can be done?? get real. How do you know this guy isn't on the LVMPD IA radar? worst post/advice I ever read, hands down.

Similar story from tampa hard rock I got from a dealer:

Player A asks "How much do you have behind?"
Player B "I have this much and a gun"

Security is called immediately. They search him. NO GUN IS FOUND. He spends the night in jail anyway.

That is how teh situation should be handled. If he had a gun I'm sure it would have been baaad for the dude.

How would he even prove anything should he decide to make a complaint?

It's a compliment to this site if what I posted is "hands down" the "worst post ever"

Just make sure you keep giving him good cards...