In the movie Code of Silence, there’s a scene where a couple of guys decide to hold up this bar. They go in, take their positions, and begin their robbery…only to find out it’s a cop bar and everyone in there are off-duty police officers.

The video is a favorite of mine:

It’s also one of those things that don’t really happen that often, though it has and will again.

I can’t help but believe this poor guy felt like those two hapless criminals, though.

Police have released surveillance video showing exactly what went down when a masked robber found himself at the wrong place at the wrong time.

According to court documents, Justin Carter, 30, walked into Raising Cane’s in the Highlands just before 10 p.m. Saturday wearing a mask and armed with a gun. He then demanded cash from one of the employees.

What he didn’t know is that two married off-duty Elizabethtown police officers were enjoying date night in a nearby booth.

The video shows Det. Chase McKeown and his wife, Officer Nicole McKeown spring into action.

“I saw her hands go up and I’m thinking ‘Is he doing what I think he’s doing?’,” Nicole McKeown remembered of watching the terrified cashier.

The two drew their weapons and proceeded to engage the robber. The bad guy decided he had better things to do than get shot, so he took off. The two officers gave chase, catching him in a backyard a couple of blocks away.

There is a lesson here for all of us, but especially for the police officers out there.

Far too many officers take the attitude of leaving the job behind them at quitting time. However, crime still happens and the last thing you want to do is be the guy who couldn’t respond because you left your weapon in your locker at work or your nightstand at home. Bad things can happen anywhere.

These two officers epitomize the job the way my father described it to me, that you were never completely off-duty. There were times when he was off the clock and he responded to things. Nothing like this, mind you, but still…

What these two officers did was absolutely what people want to see from law enforcement.

Further, they made the world a little safer because they were there. This scumbag didn’t get away because they were right there, ready and able to put foot to butt when it was needed and put him away.

For those of us who don’t have a badge, though, it’s still a reminder to have your firearm with you. While it didn’t turn out to be as violent as it could have, that’s just as much about luck as it is anything else. What would you have done if you’d been there with your wife or husband and this turdnugget showed up and you hadn’t been armed? What if he decided to shoot the witnesses? What then?

Carry your gun everywhere you legally can. You never know when you’ll need it.