The Mountain View Police Department said an off-duty lieutenant acted according to protocol when he pulled his gun out to confront a tailgating driver.
A San Jose police report said the lieutenant pulled over in his personal car to let the tailgating driver pass him. The driver then almost hit two people on bicycles at a crosswalk, the report said. The incident occurred in South San Jose.
When the driver pulled into his driveway a short time later, the report said the officer approached him to have a conversation about safety.
"(He) began to walk up, was charged by the neighbor and he pulled out his gun," said Sgt. Saul Jaeger, Mountain View Police Department. "He never pointed it at the man, had it by his side, identified himself as a police officer and that's when it was de-escalated."
State guidelines allow police to carry a gun while off duty.
The police report also said both the off-duty cop and driver shook hands, and the driver also admitted he was frustrated with the cop driving slow.
