I have conflicting feelings over this. I know that open carry is a thing in Texas, but who crossed the line, if anyone?

The police chief must be a liberal. He was completely within his right to open carry. He was also protecting his community from this nonpeaceful altercation.

It certainly looks like the police in that county are the ones who crossed the line. I think it’s incredibly important to remember that we live in a sinful fallen world. Humanity is prone to evil and corruption and every form of leadership and authority needs a checks and balance. Corrupt police as may be the case here are not representative of all police. The same is true when a soldier does something evil and faces UCMJ action, that bad soldier does not represent all soldiers.

We live in a time where people allow the actions of a few to define entire groups of people and roles; and that’s as unjust as this action and others we've seen. When we see corruption we need to call it out and fight it within the parameters established under the constitution.

So instead of obeying a yet TBD lawful or unlawful order from a police officer you decided to make a scene. I know you have the right to protest whatever you like but I really wonder what your platform is???
They may have been looking for an armed pedo that fit your description.
You stated police officer drew guns on and detained someone with a protest sign/ You failed or hide what the sign read and because open carry is legal it is still illegal for some with criminal records.
So were yur trying to establish another autonomous zone?

What kind of You responsible first sergeant goes to a protest with open carry in carries a fake weapon unless he’s trying to incite trouble. you responsible first sergeant goes to a protest with open carry in carries a fake weapon unless he’s trying to incite troubleFreaking STUPID

Doesn't even matter, even if they are found guilty the settlement will be paid out of taxpayer monies and they will just be forced to retire with all their benefits.

Until these public officials have to put money out of their own pockets, nothing will change.

What is your “conflicting feeling”?

The problem with law enforcement is the appearance of authority, which many mistaken himself as a law. It doesn't help when there is little or lack of training. And worse yet, the training is mainly about force to obey the law or facing force rather than enforcing. Enforcing the law doesn't mean using any kind of force alone, but to avoid using force. To do so, the enforcer must coaxing, not coercing, the agitator to subside, not submit. ... I've seen many situation where the law enforcement fails to read the situation and understand the agitator wants.

Case and point, I've seen a veteran just had his a appendix removed and probably addicted to pain killer also lashed out at the pharmacist at the VA clinic. The pharmacist called the VA police. The polices arrived and do exactly as the training taught them to do; keep suspect seated or on the ground, remain out of reach but close enough to tackle suspect, etc. Those who have has appendix removed before or having shrapnel or bullet in their gut before know until the wound is completely heal sitting on a waiting chair hurt like hell. Anyway, the suspect tried to obey, but because of the pain he could not sit very long. The suspect got up and moved. He was told to sit again. After about the forth time he got up he was arrested hand cuffed behind his back and was taken to police station.

The officers failed to:
1. recognize that the suspect had been obeying their order
2. sitting caused pain on his hip, he cannot sit on a waiting chair for long
3. the officer themselves were the instigator of the situation
4. know human nature, know yourself, know your enemy.

The lessen learnt from these kind of events and what is happening to George Floyd and other like him is that it might not be the case that the police is racist (I am sure that there are), but their training on how to deal with suspect is too rigid, too cut and dried whereas the real world situation is far more fluid than their training taught them. And don't get me starting on US check point in Iraq and the ROE for approaching vehicle, I don't have answer to that either.

I'm going to throw this out there for what it was worth. Who really won with this stunt? I seem to remember having to be an example for the community. Soldiers look up to 1SGS for the most part. Here we have two hard heads who got stuck in a pissing contest, both were wrong in different ways.
there are a couple of things to keep in mind with this kind of stuff. DID you not see the arrest here in Odessa a couple of weeks ago when guys were protesting outside an establishment? Were you not warned that would happen? Were you not around when folks were killed here in Odessa last year with an AR15? how about the guy on a killing spree in El Paso? You know folks are super squirrely right now .... then you pull this kind of stunt..?there is the right way to do things and a wrong way.. I believe in the 2nd .. I believe I have the right to carry .. there is a reason you have to get licensed to carry here in TXs.. its not to flaunt.. but to be able to exercise your rights without being obtuse.. I don't like their actions carried out against the 1SG, but at the same time, he openly carried the challenge to an extreme to make a point, knowing this might be the outcome. this is still America .. you still have certain rights. One thing you always do as a Texas permitted gun owner is complying with police... Period.. you can get an attorney later and then work it in court.. sorry your heart might have been in the right place but your brain disengaged at a crucial moment.. sorry

The police have become out of control everywhere in Our country. I did not go to combat to support an American version of nazi justice. Its past time to reel them in and make them subject to the same laws citizens are required to follow.

There is a definite problem in this country with cops who are belligerent and arrogant. Not understanding the law should be grounds for being let go. I'm surprised this kind of crap goes on in Texas.