Scene safety is paramount regardless of the call we are on. PERIOD!
Code 75, Code 10, behavorial problem..... we stage and sit tight until PD confirms that the scene is safe. PD gets paid to deal with bullets, I don't. I get paid to deal with what is wrong on scene, not to take bullets. Due to circumstances just like Colt has mentioned in this thread, response simply comes down to this where I work :
Your emergency is NOT my emergency. Myself and my team are #1. WE come first. When the scene is safe, then we'll help you with your emergency. It may sound ****ty, but that's the way it is. The state and the department put a lot of time, effort, and money into my training, and that of my team, to have it taken away by someone who could give a 5hit less for it. We get paid to save lives and risk our own many times to do it.
Somewhat off topic but the same general ideals apply. I can't count the number of times I have been accused, and my team been accused, of being RACISTS on EMS calls. I didn't get into this buisness to save ONLY WHITE PEOPLE! I got into this buisness to try and help EVERYONE! THAT'S what I agreed to when I signed off on my license. If you don't try and help me help you, then things aren't going to go as planned! If you are not honest with me... if you don't answer my questions... if you try and circumvent every avenue of approach by me to your current problem... I CAN'T HELP YOU! That's not being RACIST! If you can't help me help you then that's YOUR issue! NOT mine.
Being shot at by friends or family members because you couldn't help is a society issue that goes back to the "help me help you" ideal. The longer it takes the PD to get a handle on the situation, the longer it takes PD to call "scene secure" and have EMS come in from staging. BE honest and help the PD secure the scene and you might just save a life.
BS like this is the reason why many services are going to body-armor to try and protect the people who are trying to help you. I wouldn't be surprised to see it mentioned in the near future in my neck of the woods....