True story on breaking an entering

The statement that police have no duty to protect individuals comes from a court case that held that to be true.

Two women sued after police failed to stop a rape/hostage situation.
There had been a break-in and the police were called.

Police came to the building, drove around, saw nothing, and drove
off. The rape happened after the women were discovered, after the police had been there. It was brutal and continued for some time.

The case happened many years ago in D.C. and could probably be found by checking whatever search engine you favor. I seem to
recall that there were other cases with the same outcome.

I know cops and believe any of them would try to stop a crime in
progress if they could. If they failed, courts have held that they can't be sued due to having a duty to the public in general, not to any particular individual.

No insult intended just the facts, as I have read them.
(Not a lawyer, and don't even play one on TV.)
 
You can be against guns, and choose not to own one. That is your right.

You can also not believe in God. You have that right too.

But it is amazing that when someone breaks into your house at 3:00 AM,

the first thing you do is call someone with a gun, and pray that they arrive quickly.

:rolleyes:


I like that! I'm going to remember it and quote it often. ;)
 
I read on the internet that police have no duty to protect anyone and it leaves me wondering what I did for 30 years. Not only was it in my oath of office, it was written on almost everything in print w/i the agency. As to no ability to protect anyone other than ourselves I always guessed that is why we were issued weapons and trained. As a matter of fact I used my weapon to protect someone that did not have the ability to protect himself at the time.

Frankly, I find this kind of thing insulting to every cop that ever put on a uniform and worked a shift anywhere!

I don't think this was meant as an insult. It was actually the Supreme Court which decided that police were not liable if they failed to protect an individual. On a legal basis, a policeman carries a handgun for his own defense. 50 years ago it was common to shoot at a fleeing felon. Now the rules of engagement are much more restrictive.

In a practical sense, you would certainly intervene, with deadly force if necessary, to protect the victim of a crime. What are the chances you are going to be there to see it in progress? Heck, we have more "confirmed" UFO sightings than photos of traffic accidents in progress.
 
In a practical sense, you would certainly intervene, with deadly force if necessary, to protect the victim of a crime. What are the chances you are going to be there to see it in progress? Heck, we have more "confirmed" UFO sightings than photos of traffic accidents in progress.
You would hope he would.

Some would, some wouldn't.

Again, it hardly matters either way.

It's 99% certain that neither the "good" cop nor the "bad" one is going to be there to protect you from an IMMEDIATE threat to your life and limb.

Most of the time, even the most conscientious police are going to be nothing more than a reporting and investigative agency.

That being the case, not being prepared to protect YOURSELF is the height of foolishness.

I know that unilateral pacifists and other nitwits would be horrified by my attitude, but I'd MUCH rather have the police report and investigate my self-defense shooting of an assailant, than of my murder by one.
 
Where I live, the police do their job to the best of their ability. They are always fighting the good fight and I tip my hat to them. But the bottom line for me is, is that no matter how fast the police can get to me or my family, they can't be there in the IMMEDIATE DANGER. That's where me and my wife step in. Both of us are properly trained in firearms handling, we both carry our CCW Permits, and we both carry concealed where the law allows us to. If something were to happen to me, my wife, or my family, we have the right to defend ourselves from the immediate danger until that immediate danger stops. We are the first line of defense for our family until our local police show up and can gladly take over. But our Government is trying to make it harder and harder for the innocent to protect themselves and it really pisses me off!!!
 
Years ago when I worked the night shift the wife heard what she thought one night like someone trying to open one of the garage doors. She called 911 and it took 45 minutes for them to show. The town is not that large and we only live a couple of miles from the station. One of our neighbors was on the force also. I know there are less officers on duty during the night because there's less activity going on. I'm sure know one wanted to show up in the dark without back up either but 45 min. is ridiculous. Only thing I can think is the only Duncan Donuts in town at that time was literally on the farthest side of town. Today there are considerably quite a few more around town, seems like theres one on every corner so response time should be a lot better now days. LOL
 
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I never get tired of saying this:

  • Police have no legal duty to protect individuals.
  • Police have no legal liability when they fail to protect individuals.
  • Police have virtually no physical ability to protect individuals.
The police don't protect individuals. They draw chalk outlines around individuals who don't protect themselves.

When your life is in danger RIGHT NOW, you're either going to protect YOURSELF or you're just not going to get protected AT ALL. Anybody who tells you different is a liar.

Could not agree more. Right on the money.
 
I read on the internet that police have no duty to protect anyone and it leaves me wondering what I did for 30 years. Not only was it in my oath of office, it was written on almost everything in print w/i the agency. As to no ability to protect anyone other than ourselves I always guessed that is why we were issued weapons and trained. As a matter of fact I used my weapon to protect someone that did not have the ability to protect himself at the time.

Frankly, I find this kind of thing insulting to every cop that ever put on a uniform and worked a shift anywhere!

It's not an insult - it's the fact that a police officer can't be everywhere at once - neither can a firefighter or EMT. It's just not possible.When immediate threat is present, you as a citizen have to protect yourself whether it's a BG, fire, or medical emergency.

I have been to some fires where citizens criticized the fire department for a slow response. After we interviewed all the complaining citizens at one incident we found no one called 911 until a Fedex driver drove up and saw a crowd standing in the street watching the house burn and asked if the fire department was on the way.
He ended up making the first call - after the house was fully involved.

Truth is I have no doubt if a P.O. is near the scene he will take action.
 
I read on the internet that police have no duty to protect anyone and it leaves me wondering what I did for 30 years.

Dear Sir: As a friend to several cops who go out and risk their lives daily, I can only say "thank you." But I know that cops can't be everywhere at once. I hope that the previous writers were referring to the fact that, if a cop doesn't happen to be where trouble occurs, there will be a time lag. It is during this time lag that one may have to defend their family themselves.

PS--I'm glad that you made it to being an OLD cop! It was a semi-retired cop who gave me my first CWP class. One thing he spoke on was handling the fear.
 
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So Kablamo, does your brother still live in La-La-Land?

I respect all LEO and all that they do for us. But I have no illusions that they can do it all or can be exactly where I need them, exactly when I need them there.
 
Dear Sir: As a friend to several cops who go out and risk their lives daily, I can only say "thank you." But I know that cops can't be everywhere at once. I hope that the previous writers were referring to the fact that, if a cop doesn't happen to be where trouble occurs, there will be a time lag. It is during this time lag that one may have to defend their family themselves.
Cops might not show up or show up late for a multitude of reasons, including:
  • Your assailant not permitting you to call them.
  • Your phone lines being cut.
  • There being a problem with the 911 system.
  • The 911 system being over-loaded.
  • The 911 operator being a drooling imbecile, like the one in Detroit who demanded that a shooting victim put the person who shot her on the phone.
  • The 911 operator giving the police the wrong address.
  • There being 3 crimes worth of cops available and 4 crimes in progress.
  • There being heavy traffic between police and you.
  • The police not wanting to bother. I've personally seen police services in Chicago denied on the basis of race.
  • The police getting the address wrong.
  • The police going to the wrong address.
911 is neither a matter transporter nor a time machine. Unlike Doctor Who, the cops can't keep doing it over until you DON'T get killed.

Police protection of individuals in IMMEDIATE danger is at best a fairytale, at worst a deliberate lie.

I'm not foolish enough to gamble my life on a myth.
 
Years ago when I worked the night shift the wife heard what she thought one night like someone trying to open one of the garage doors. She called 911 and it took 45 minutes for them to show. The town is not that large and we only live a couple of miles from the station. One of our neighbors was on the force also. I know there are less officers on duty during the night because there's less activity going on. I'm sure know one wanted to show up in the dark without back up either but 45 min. is ridiculous. Only thing I can think is the only Duncan Donuts in town at that time was literally on the farthest side of town. Today there are considerably quite a few more around town, seems like theres one on every corner so response time should be a lot better now days. LOL

Well Roadhog,

I see you are taking the opportunity to bash the cops because your wife's call wasn't answered in a timely fashion (according to you).

If the response wasn't satisfactory, did she call back?

Exactly what did she say to the dispatcher that took her call? Telling them you hear noises isn't the same as saying SOMEONE IS BREAKING INTO YOUR HOUSE.

Was it in fact 45 minutes or did she just think that?

Did you go to the chief and demand an explanation? Why not?

I lived and worked in a high crime city for 30 years, if you need the police, they are there, you need to be clear and concise when you call, since 85% of the calls to 911 should never be made, especially to an emergency number.

I can remember plenty of nights with a 4 car minimum staffing and cars dropping off arrests and running out to the next call, coming back to process later.

Maybe you ought to rethink your Dunkin Donuts cheap shot, and base your post on some facts.

Oh, by the way, the cops don't wait in the station for the calls, that's the Fire Department.
 
I lived and worked in a high crime city for 30 years, if you need the police, they are there, you need to be clear and concise when you call, since 85% of the calls to 911 should never be made, especially to an emergency number.
"They are there", WHERE?

Unless you've got a police protective detail, NOT where you NEED them, RIGHT NOW.

I GUARANTEE you that the response time for my Norinco M1911 will ALWAYS be shorter than for the police... unless I have that protective detail... that I DON'T have and never will.
 
CMort, I believe that I understand where you are coming from But it would seem that you have a way of coming across as a bit harsh. Your explanations clearify the 1st post but I took the 1st post as inflamatory, as I read it, the first time.
I told My wife that I think you are more of a realist.

I like Cops and what they do BUT I too would rather have a gun.

cmort harsh??inflamatory??:eek::eek: LOL...!! you must remember from reading cmort's various posts here...it's all about him...period....there are people out here that in fact help and assist others for a living
 
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Well Roadhog,

I see you are taking the opportunity to bash the cops because your wife's call wasn't answered in a timely fashion (according to you).

If the response wasn't satisfactory, did she call back?.....

I lived and worked in a high crime city for 30 years, if you need the police, they are there, you need to be clear and concise when you call, since 85% of the calls to 911 should never be made, especially to an emergency number.


Maybe you ought to rethink your Dunkin Donuts cheap shot, and base your post on some facts.

Oh, by the way, the cops don't wait in the station for the calls, that's the Fire Department.

I understand Roadhog's post and I don't think it was meant to be mean or condescending. He did put LOL on the end, as he knew he was kidding.

The point is (and this is where Cmort is coming from) cops are wonderful people, but they can't (and don't get me wrong here) be depended on to protect someone.

Like Roadhog's wife, she wanted help immediately, but help takes time.

That woman who was in the news recently who shot the intruder while she was hiding in her attic with her two kids... she wanted help immediately but had to wait. Fortunately she had her own method of defense.

I love the work LEO's do, and I would have been one except for my hearing. I have LEO's that are family and I know they would give their life to save someone. So don't get me wrong...

But we can't depend on 911 or the police to protect us. We may have a few seconds or a few minutes to put up a defense. After that it may be too late.

I'm NOT minimizing the work LEO's do or disrespecting them in any way. I just am taking responsibility for my own self defense. ;)
 
I read on the internet that police have no duty to protect anyone and it leaves me wondering what I did for 30 years. Not only was it in my oath of office, it was written on almost everything in print w/i the agency. As to no ability to protect anyone other than ourselves I always guessed that is why we were issued weapons and trained. As a matter of fact I used my weapon to protect someone that did not have the ability to protect himself at the time.

Frankly, I find this kind of thing insulting to every cop that ever put on a uniform and worked a shift anywhere!

Totally agree! Failure to do so would have been a dereliction of duty and a violation of my moral compass! I did 27 years protecting those who were unable to protect themselves!
 
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