OFF THE WIRE
ask me why I wouldn’t just call the police to stop a crime instead of
drawing a gun. Well for one, a great police response time would be 1-2
minutes, but most crimes take place in a matter of seconds. Two, police
have no duty to protect me, or you.
Based on the headline of this article you might think this is an
important new ruling, but it’s not. The court has kept this stance for
over 30 years.
The Supreme Court has repeatedly ruled that police officers at all
levels of the government have no duty to protect the citizens of this
country.
It is the job of police officers to investigate crimes and arrest criminals.
We are on our own for protection.
While we are quite sure most police officers will help someone in
need when required, just remember the next time you feel you might need
protection that police officers have no duty to provide that to you.
Sources:
- Warren v. District of Columbia
- Justices Rule Police Do Not Have a Constitutional Duty to Protect Someone (NY Times)
