Dial 911 and Die

A little background on me: At the end of last year, 2006, I retired possibly for the last time. My first 30 years after highschool graduation, were spent serving in the United States Navy from were I retired as a Master Chief Petty Officer. Then for the next 15+ years, I was a fulltime law enforcement either as a Florida State Probation Officer or lastly, as an Airport Police Officer. During my active duty navy tenure I had also served as a reserve police officer for about another 8 years with the Highway Patrol and as a Deputy Sheriff.

I have been involved with firearms as a shooter, collector and instructor for about 50 years. I do not consider myself as an expert but perhaps as more of a learned person. I have also realized that the more I learn, the less I realize I know.

Today I was searching the internet and I happened upon a book call "Call 911 and Die". That is a very interesting idea because we all know that when you call 911 help has to come.

But does help "have" to come or does help "maybe" come. And if help does in fact come from how far away does it come and in what manner.

As a first responder police officer, I was taught rudimentary emergency first aid. HOWEVER, my department put very little medical equipment into the patrol cars because they always told us we could call the fire department. That takes time if you think about it, maybe more than the victim has.

What about the nights when the department is working with less than the minimum officers needed or when their are more emergencies than officers..........who is going to come when?

Then there were the LA Riots when the police were pulled out of the riot zone and not allowed to respond.

My purpose here is to let each person who reads this become aware that you are responsible for your own personal safety. In fact, courts have ruled that in many cases all over the United States that police have "No Duty To Protect Individual Citizens":

This person was not allowed to arm herself for protection IAW New York City Law but after acid was thrown in her face, the City of New York was not liable for failing to protect her.[Riss v. City of N.Y., 293 N.Y. 2d 897 (1968)].

This was a teacher assaulted and killed on school property by a student enrolled in the school. Again, police neither the city nor the police had a " special duty" to protect. [Keane v. City of Chicago, 98 Ill App2d 460 (1968)].

California ruling, No liability to provide sufficient police protection. [Hartzer v. City of San Jose, App., 120 Cal.Rptr 5 (1975)].

The U.S. Supreme Court declared that local law enforcement had no duty to protect a particular person, but only a general duty to enforce the laws. [South v. Maryland, 59 U.S. (How.) 396, 15 L.Ed., 433 (856)].

This one is an actual 911 incident. Subject and friends suffered multiple assults after being told via 911 the police would respond. [Warren v. District of Columbia, D.C.App., 444 A.2d 1 (1981)].

In your continuing search for knowledge, you might want to check out this book. You may even want to send a copy to some of your friends.

Dial 911 and Die (Paperback)
by Richard W Stevens
http://www.amazon.com/Dial-911-Die-Richard-Stevens/dp/0964230445

As a challenge for those who think I am nuts and just made this up.. Google "Call 911 and Die" and see what the latest news is on that topic.