Cop Down -- would you intervene?

[BlueEagle]

You forgot the purple.

Maybe he didn't.

 

[LockStocksAndBarrel]

Yes. I would aid anyone in mortal danger.

Denny, that's a real sad story. I can't imagine anyone doing that. How can they even look at themselves in the mirror after letting someone die like that? It sure rattles your faith in humanity when you hear a story like that. I'm sorry.

 

[buzzined]

I thought I read an account of this a couple of years back. In the other account, there were more details like the officer and the attacker were struggling for the officers gun when the bystander shot the attacker.

If this is not the same story, it has an uncanny similarity. Officer pulls person over for breaking into a funeral procession, gets into an altercation and a bystander comes to the officers aide after coming out of a 7/11. The bystander fires into the torso without effect, steps closer and puts a round behind the attackers ear.

I think it is the one you read. This happened in 2006. Here is a better link that tells more of the story.

The Shootist: One Man Got Involved. The Perry Stephens/George Temple Incident

From reading this version I don't think he had any other way of helping accept what he did.

I could only hope I would help if I were in the same situation.

 

[tskin]

Going back to the OT, I would probably do what pretty much every LEO tells me on here and that is be a "good witness." Why would I help a PO in distress when I shouldn't help a random citizen in distress?

911 is just right around the corner. I'll just wait for them if it isn't someone close to me being harmed. amirite?

I doubt you'd feel that way if it was someone you cared about was was being beaten or killed & someone who could've saved them just stood there & watched so he'd be a "good witness."

 

[1forguns]

I would help out after assessing the situation and use appropriate means based on situation.

 

[Bunnykid68]

I doubt you'd feel that way if it was someone you cared about was was being beaten or killed & someone who could've saved them just stood there & watched so he'd be a "good witness."

The point he was making is that People of Authority are always telling us to just be a good witness and not get involved, so which should we do? Get involved or just be a good witness.

I know what I would do.

 

[Hurculeasz]

I would like to think that I would help, within my means. But it is very hard to say without being in the situation.

 

[bmbutch]

If I can help, I'm helping, couldn't live with myself otherwise.

 

[jeremy]

I would like to think that I would help, within my means. But it is very hard to say without being in the situation.

Duty and Honor are tough Mistresses...

 

[Mr. Habib]

Ask Dave Moore about citizen help as he lay in the yard dying. Homeowner standing there watching him though a window as he died...alone in the snow. It was a fellow officer blocks away that was the first to show up to help. I can count on my brothers/sisters when the SHTF and that is it. We welcome the outside help if given but we know it is not likely. Every day we have officers fighting with resisters and either the passerby's will only watch or root the suspect on. More people than want to admit actually like seeing us struggle.

It would take a truly disgusting POS to do that. To answer the question: I would be morally and ethically obligated to assist someone in danger, badge or not.

 

[elliotle]

I disagree. Pretty strongly, as a matter of fact. And I am not speaking of one individual. If it was one individual there would be no problem.

...and he stepped out from under the bridge, opened up his laptop, and logged onto INGO...

 

[elliotle]

Our only hope for humanity is when good people value innocent life enough to defend it from the evil that would do it harm.

 

[mr buckman]

Our only hope for humanity is when good people value innocent life enough to defend it from the evil that would do it harm.

true....and I would help

 

[jdewyse]

It doesn't matter if someone has a badge or not, if they are in need of help then of course I would help. In the case of just someone getting beat up I don't think taking a shot is warranted, but I would definitely intervene. I don't know if I could live with myself if I could of helped but didn't and someone got seriously injured.

 

[MTC]

Yes.

 

[Valvestate]

Yup

 

[Manan]

Yes!

 

[Tydeeh22]

if im not mistaken.. isn't it the law to intervene unless you have a really good reason?

 

[45fan]

I couldnt think of not helping anyone in this situation. Not everyone would, but then, if that were the case, things would be much different in this country. The most disappointing part of the situation in question though is that a seriously handicapped person was the one in a crowd of many that was willing to stand up and defend a life.

 

[dusterboy49]

Bystander Fired Deadly Shot, Not Officer - WAFB 9 News Baton Rouge, Louisiana News, Weather, Sports

I would not hesitate to do whatever necessary to assist a police officer involved in a dangerous situation.
They are no different than anyone else who might need aid.