From px4storm:
I'm sure everyone tends to feel that way, but doing more than calling the police may be very unwise indeed. Even if you are not injured or killed, arrested, convicted, or sued, you may suffer serious consequences.
A couple of years ago the wife of a coworker of mine saw a neighbor on the ground being severely beaten by her husband, who was using a garden tool. She called the police, who arrived before the person was killed.
Result? The "innocent person" undertook vengeance, including vandalism, driving on my co-worker's yard, threats, and attempting to poison my co-worker's dogs. The authorities were unable to act effectively, and my coworker ended up having to move to another county.
Not everyone who lives in our communities today lives by the same code. The offending neighbors were from another culture and another continent, and neither spoke english.
Should my coworker's wife have acted differently? Not to my way of thinking, but this incident illustrates that there is risk even in calling the police when other parties are involved in a violent dispute.
I would not stand by while an innocent person was being beaten with the excuse that I called the police and that was the end of my duty as a citizen. If someone is in distress in any way, it is my nature to want to help (Not in the role as an LEO but as a Good Samaritan). I cannot turn my back on someone in need.
I'm sure everyone tends to feel that way, but doing more than calling the police may be very unwise indeed. Even if you are not injured or killed, arrested, convicted, or sued, you may suffer serious consequences.
A couple of years ago the wife of a coworker of mine saw a neighbor on the ground being severely beaten by her husband, who was using a garden tool. She called the police, who arrived before the person was killed.
Result? The "innocent person" undertook vengeance, including vandalism, driving on my co-worker's yard, threats, and attempting to poison my co-worker's dogs. The authorities were unable to act effectively, and my coworker ended up having to move to another county.
Not everyone who lives in our communities today lives by the same code. The offending neighbors were from another culture and another continent, and neither spoke english.
Should my coworker's wife have acted differently? Not to my way of thinking, but this incident illustrates that there is risk even in calling the police when other parties are involved in a violent dispute.