Assisting an LEO

L

loknload

New member
OK, Here is a FUD for you to ponder? Maybe FUD already did this one?
Anyway you are driving down the road,Whether it be a country road or a major highway,by chance you happen across a scene where you spot a downed LEO, that has just been ambushed on an unsuspecting vehicle stop or involved in a high speed chase where the BG got the upper hand on the LEO and now is probably escaping on foot. What are you going to do? By the way you are armed of course.
My course of action? Pull over and scan the area as for location of BG. Exit my vehicle in a ready state,weapon not drawn,Be prepared to retreat and take cover and draw weapon if needed.If officer has not already used his radio to call for assistence or cannot,Use the radio to call a MAYDAY Officer down. Render assistence to downed officer while watching my back. Take care of the obvious wounds and wait for the Calvary to arrive.Will not leave officer to go look for BG,But will defend myself if needed.
Has anyone ever been in a situation as such?
I'am not the one to be a hero or play one ,but as a past Firefighter and EMT trained person I could not drive by a fellow human being and do nothing.Since I have friends that are LEOs I would do the same for all.
What do you LEOs out there think of civilian interaction of this sort?
Just curious? whether right or wrong thats what I'm going to do ;) Sometimes we just have to take a chance and hope you made the right choice ;)
Hey FUD did you already do this one? :)

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We preserve our freedoms by using four boxes: soap,ballot,jury, and cartridge.
Anonymous
 
I would do my best to secure the scene and call for help. God help the BG if he shows up to finish what he started. I have some training in CPR / First Responder etc so I would try to do my best to check any injury so EMS would know what to expect.

Good post. I don't think even FUD has come up with this....

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"Some people spend an entire liftime wondering if they made a difference. Marines don't have that problem."
Semper Fi
 
I would probably do as you suggested with a great deal of caution.

I have happened along a few situations (not as bad as this) where an LEO was obviously in over his head.. but for fear of my personal saftey (from BG and LEO), I regretably did not lend my assistance. Being in Atlanta.. I would not be comfortable with such situations.. back in "home territory", I would more happily assist without the fear of "the unknown" ** ;) @ FUD**

However, I will anxiously await other's replies to this topic...

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God, Guns and Guts made this country a great country!

oberkommando sez:
"We lost the first and third and now they are after the Second!(no pun intended)"

[This message has been edited by KaMaKaZe (edited September 08, 2000).]
 
Depends on the place where it happens. If in a free state, lending a hand would be neighborly...do for a cop what you'd do for any other decent human, help out. Besides, I know and like my local beat cops.

If in an occupied territory, drive away. Resist the temptation to deliver a "finisher" as that would get you into trouble without materially affecting the outcome of the fight.

The reason for that approach is that someday you might be the one having to fight your way out of a gestapo ambush and the last thing you want is some ally of yours making you are friendly fire casualty out of a misguided sense of civic duty.
 
back about 20 years ago (part of my infamous, misspent youth) I was part of a motorcycle club in North Carolina. On a old back road 2 of us rolled up on a BIG old county deputy fighting with 3 guys. they were plainly trying to get his weapon, and he was no longer able to really defend himself, as he was too occupied with weapon retention. We pulled over, kicked the crap out of 2 of the guys while the Peace Officer worked over the third. we helped hold them whle he called for another deputy and more cuffs (he had only one pair). Turns out they had robbed a gas station, but the stolen gun had no round in the chamber and they did not know how to work the action. When the officer stopped them for speeding, they tried to shoot him, and then decided that maybe his sidearm would be better for the job. We left him with a bunch of "courtesy cards" and went about our business. He had us up for a barbecue a few months later, the whole club (about 40 guys). Doesn't matter what the politics of day may be, it was one against many, I'll stick my neck out in such a case any day.
 
I don't believe you'd need to concern yourself with BadGuy or BadGuys hanging around the scene.

I'd call 911, give them a better-than-good description of myself and my vehicle, inform them of the situation and keep the line open while I tried to render aid to the downed LEO.
 
I think I would explain breifly while on the radio with the dispatch that I was civilian assisting

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We preserve our freedoms by using four boxes: soap,ballot,jury, and cartridge.
Anonymous

[This message has been edited by loknload (edited September 09, 2000).]
 
I would also advise that if you have a weapon out that you drop it ASAP when the cavalry arrives- remember, they have no clue what is going on at that scene except that it is Not Good. If the BG gets away, so be it- you are safe, the downed officer is safe, and everyone is going home tonight.

You might end up with a gun shoved in your face but if the officers have any decency you'll get humble apologies and hearty thanks as soon as the whole mess gets sorted out.

For a vivid (and terrifying) demonstration of this watch a video of the Coates slaying from (I think) South Carolina. A trooper gets shot and dies (a story in and of itself) and a truck driver who pulls over to assist is standing there with his own gun in his hand when the next trooper rolls up. All the responding trooper knows is he has a civilian (the assailant) down, a trooper down and another civilian standing there with a pistol in his hand. Fortunately the day ended with only one tragedy and not two.

Mike

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"A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects." -Robert Heinlein
 
I couldn't live with myself if I did nothing. I doubt that I would chase down the BG, but I would render all of the aid I could.
 
As an LEO, I would second what Coronach said. The responding LEOs will not know what is going on, for all they know maybe the BG came back to finish the job. Also, we tend to get very emotional/excited when we hear "officer down". My suggestion would be when you hear the sirens conceal your firearm and make sure they can see your hands.

I for one would be VERY grateful someone stopped to help a downed officer, thankyou in advance for ANY assistance you guys give us, we need it. LEOs are stretched pretty thin in most areas. Of course the politcos say they do not have enough money to hire more LEOs, this is complete BS. They collect more than enough taxes (actually too much), but they spend it on a lot of BS things.

[This message has been edited by mrat (edited September 09, 2000).]
 
mrat,your right town fathers are full of crap when it comes to funding PD and FD.
Just seen it happen locally with the re start of the cities Paramedic and Ambulance service.
Town fathers wouldn't back a highly respected Fire Chief to do what was needed to get the service back up and running after the private service dropped its contract.
In some cases with these people,They would do P.T. Barnum proud :) All three rings under the Big Top :)

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We preserve our freedoms by using four boxes: soap,ballot,jury, and cartridge.
Anonymous
 
Funding is becomming too political. Carrot and stick, do this or else you don't get the money! Jack M. Great story!! Thanks for sharing.
 
My concern would be that the LEO who needs help may think I'm another of the BG's and coming to get him instead of coming to help him. How do we avoid this?

LEO's : How should we come to assist you? ?
 
The Coates shooting video makes me seriously reconsider if I would render any kind of aid to a downed LEO. Those bystanders came within about a hair's breadth of getting shot by that black trooper, in my opinion.

Communication is the key, I think. Take every oppourtunity to communicate to the other officers that you're the good guy. Use your cell-phone, use the radio, use your voice, and still realize that there's a good chance you'll at least get a gun pointed at you, maybe worse.

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"Anyone feel like saluting the flag which the strutting ATF and FBI gleefully raised over the smoldering crematorium of Waco, back in April of ‘93?" -Vin Suprynowicz
 
Once, some 10 years ago or so, I did 'back up' a LEO without them knowing it at the time.

I had called the sheriff (our rural police presence) to report that a neighbors house was being broken in to. The BGs had pulled in the back yard with their truck and tried to gain access to the house. When the BGs started trying to kick in the back door I got on the horn to the law. I was kept on the line to give live updates to the responding LEOs.

I also took this opportunity to arm myself with a scoped rifle and took a bead on the goings on from my upstairs window (150 yds away). When the LEOs got there I continued to keep them covered from afar. Hey, my scope is a 10x, and my binoculars are 8x. I could both see better and also provide a better cover from there.

Later, when the BGs were apprehended and the LEOs came to my door to get my statement, I told them I was covering them from my window. They said that they appreciated that. Thankfully, my cover wasn't needed, though there were a few tense moments when the BGs first got wind of the LEOs being there. The one (female) screamed, dropped her load and ran back in to the house when she saw the cops. At that point the LEOs guns were drawn and I could hear them ordering the BGs out of the house. Smart (?) BGs, eh?
 
So am I George, So am I ;) Will assist anyone in a time of need :)

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We preserve our freedoms by using four boxes: soap,ballot,jury, and cartridge.
Anonymous

[This message has been edited by loknload (edited September 12, 2000).]
 
The best you can do is drop your gun, assume an utterly submissive stance, keep your hands up, and do EXACTLY what is demanded of you. Don't be helpful and try to produce ID or your permit...just do what they say when the say it.

We instruct our officers in plainclothes or off-duty to do precisely the same thing. So its not at all unheard of for cops to run in to helpful people with guns...just be aware that until all the feces gets sorted out you're going to be, at best, detained at gunpoint. :(

Thanks in advance for any aid you might render.

Mike

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"A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects." -Robert Heinlein
 
I agree with George first and foremost, Oleg second.

If I help out an officer with good intentions, I better get no crap for it. If I do get screwed, what's the use living in a world like that. (unfortunately we do).

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"Get rid of that nickel plated sissy pistol and get yourself a Glock" - Tommy Lee Jones
 
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