It's true slanted or not. I've heard several people say they're more scared of police than criminals. The logic being, at least that can legally defend themselves against criminals. I don't feel that way but I've heard that a few times.
- Status
It's true slanted or not. I've heard several people say they're more scared of police than criminals. The logic being, at least that can legally defend themselves against criminals. I don't feel that way but I've heard that a few times.
Sure you have a legal right to refuse assistance.
The question in a case like this is whether there is any legal authority for police to order someone to stop engaging in a dangerous activity that is not putting anyone else at risk, and to force compliance if they refuse. It is pretty dubious, but if I was a DA trying to make a case stick in that kind of situation, I would try 21 O.S. 280: http://www.oscn.net/applications/oscn/DeliverDocument.asp?CiteID=391820 which says:
It is pretty vague, and could definitely be challenged on those grounds, but one possible interpretation of it is that if a cop is engaged in agency operations of rescue and promoting public safety, knowingly doing anything that puts yourself in danger in his presence is a misdemeanor. There are probably judges in this state who would interpret it that way.
But since that justification is on pretty shaky ground, what I would do if I was a cop wanting to stop this kind of conduct (and if I had defective morals) would be to tell them to stop, and if they didn't, drag them out by force, arrest them on charges of resisting an officer, and concoct an official story and report saying that I approached to offer assistance, suggesting that they leave the water, when they became angry and attacked me. I would also probably say they smelled of alcohol and appeared intoxicated, and tack on charges of public intox to further bolster my case. If one of them ended up getting shot over the deal, it would be even more important that the official record of the incident make it sound as justified as possible.
But I'm not a cop, so that's neither here nor there.
Just so you don't think I'm too slanted - I posted back then giving kudos to 2 other SPD cops that were very professional, and courteous during that event. (no surprise that they were older fellows)
A thought came into my head. Thinking of laws that require seat belts in vehicles or helmets on motorcycles, part of me says "if it doesn't hurt anyone else, go for it." Another part thinks of the people who have to scrape you up off of the asphalt.
Follow that logic through -
Maybe we should limit food intake to prevent 500lb heart patients? I mean, there's an epidemic of nurses with back problems because of overweight patients.
Mandatory diet and exercise? Outlaw cigarettes?
My thoughts on that are that we all make our own decisions and live with the consequences -- which includes the choice of taking a job as an "asphalt scraper." If you can't handle gruesome scenes and death, maybe being a first responder isn't the job for you.
In Indiana they can fight back if necessary
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/artic...ls-out-when-indianans-may-open-fire-on-police
"Do you know how fast you were going?"
"Where's the fire?"
"Can I see your license and insurance verification?"
"Have you been drinking?"
- Status
Similar threads
