This is meant to be a technical discussion, not a subjective, possibly inflammatory "Us vs Them" discussion, and is aimed mostly at member LEOs. Please share your personal experiences as examples, if you wish.
What guidelines are set, and by whom, as to what an off duty LEO is obligated to do? Where is the line drawn between "Today I am a civilian" and "I am always a cop"?
In the "LEO Only" thread, someone brought up the example of a police officer (off duty) in line at a store when the place gets robbed, and being obligated to do something.
Morally, all of us would be obligated to something, if possible.
But legally, non-LEOs wouldn't have to do anything but sit there and get robbed, right? Would an off duty LEO be legally required to act? What about the Supreme Court ruling that LEOs can't be held responsible for protecting individuals, where does that fit in?
When you're off duty, no one expects you to write speeding tickets, or cite people for littering, do they? I mean, you have go grocery shopping sometime.
When do you 'look the other way'?
-boing
EDIT: I guess this probably should be in "Legal/Political." Sorry.
[This message has been edited by boing (edited July 15, 1999).]
What guidelines are set, and by whom, as to what an off duty LEO is obligated to do? Where is the line drawn between "Today I am a civilian" and "I am always a cop"?
In the "LEO Only" thread, someone brought up the example of a police officer (off duty) in line at a store when the place gets robbed, and being obligated to do something.
Morally, all of us would be obligated to something, if possible.
But legally, non-LEOs wouldn't have to do anything but sit there and get robbed, right? Would an off duty LEO be legally required to act? What about the Supreme Court ruling that LEOs can't be held responsible for protecting individuals, where does that fit in?
When you're off duty, no one expects you to write speeding tickets, or cite people for littering, do they? I mean, you have go grocery shopping sometime.
When do you 'look the other way'?
-boing
EDIT: I guess this probably should be in "Legal/Political." Sorry.
[This message has been edited by boing (edited July 15, 1999).]