Lessons from a Confrontation Today, Part II

[rainbowbob]

...if two adults want to get into a fight, who am I to stop them?

The problem is, how do you know if you are witnessing a robbery or something worse?

 

[TimM]

Here is the thing that I think about a lot. Unless I absolutely 100% know what is going on I will stay out of it and call 911.

I have chosen to protect myself and mine and to be prepared in the best possible way that I can if a situation does occur. In this day and age everyone knows what's up and the dangers we all face. If they have chosen not to learn and protect themselves why should it then be my responsibility to risk harm to myself by coming to their aid.

I can envision that there might be some instance when yes, I would go to the aid of a stranger but for the most part, count me out. I do not need the risk or the possible lawyers fees.

Call me a coward an S.O.B. or whatever else you may think I am. I have responsibility to stay safe and protect the ones that I love - nobody else.

 

[solive]

I work in Asset Protection/ AKA Loss Prevention. Some times when you are getting the worse end of an apprehension you wish some one would help, but most of the time it ends up going the wrong way.

Case in point: about 1.5 years ago my partner made a stop in the parking lot and got into a scuffle with the suspect and they went to the ground. An off duty Police officer happened to be walking up and retrieved his asp baton and commenced to beating my partner in an attempt to help.

When I am involved in a situation like this I am continuously shouting my identity and ordering the suspect to stop resisting. To help prevent some one from misidentifying me.

Also a lot of times bystanders that end up trying to help end up doing things that can cause me to get sued as well as lose my job.

Case in point: 1 month ago myself and my partner were apprehending a suspect, we all went to the ground and once we gained control of him and were in the process of rolling him over to handcuff him when a bystander jumped into "help" the bystander jumped down and started choking out the suspect. A yelled at him twice to stop then had to forcefully stop him from choking the suspect.

Most times I would just rather a bystander call the police because I will be doing that myself as soon as everyone is safe and secure.

 

[rainbowbob]

Thanks for that perspective, Solive. I've been wondering about the advisability of retailers employing undercover loss prevention employees. The scenarios you have described point out some of the serious liabilities that might arise from such a policy.

I realize shoplifting is an enormous problem that must be dealt with in order for the company to hang on to razor-thin profit margins and remain in business.

However, fights in parking lots between unidentified combatants seems like a recipe for disaster.

 

[Wile E Coyote]

Pat wrote: "Just one gripe here. Ive noticed that alot of people keep saying that it is not the duty of police to protect people. I am the only one in my family who isnt a cop and all my cousins would sharply disagree. If you didnt want to protect people you wouldnt have become a cop. It might not be listed as a job description for them to "protect an individual" but you better believe that if you call thats exactly what they will do. It seems like people are trying to deter others from calling the police. "well if the cops wont protect me id better cowboy up and take care of myself" Im not saying that you shouldnt be prepared to take care of yourself but jeez."

This is something worth discussing, and I feel I could partially answer, but let's not muddy up this thread. Perhaps Pat, you could start another thread and we could expand on your gripe? I'd really like to see this get resolved for you.

 

[solive]

However, fights in parking lots between unidentified combatants seems like a recipe for disaster.

Totally correct, I like to avoid them as much as possible. I always want to go home to my family. I employ a lot of tactics to resolve the situation with out violence. But that said people are always going to do one of three things: Fight, Flight, or Surrender. And you cant always anticipate every one.