THE POLICE HAVE NO DUTY TO PROTECT INDIVIDUALS!
There is much ado, particularly where I live in St. Clair County, about budget shortfalls and the resulting lay-offs of police. The media is commenting on possible “safety” issues and residents express concern over lack of protection. In reality, there is no protection by police. That is not their job. If it were, then there would be some remedy at law for their failing to protect anyone. People have made such a claim in the past and the courts have opined on the fallacious belief that police are for anyone’s protection.
People are responsible for their own protection. It is insane to think that another man will respond to a plea for help from someone he has never met in such fashion so as to prevent imminent harm, or to otherwise identify impending harm and prevent it. People disarm themselves and rely upon an emergency phone call to keep them from violence. Government prefers it that way, because for every case where an individual suffered harm, they ask for more money to pay more police; lending to the perception that one day we all will have our own armed guard.
Now, if police actually addressed crime, that being violent acts perpetrated by people against people rather than legislative prohibitions such as drugs, motor vehicles, ordinance violations… there would be less demand for such police and thereby lower budgets. It has gotten to the point where police inject themselves into our private affairs, not because they care for our safety, but because they are looking for any possible transgression for which to arrest someone and reap financial gain for the State through fines. This also applies to roadside checkpoints where they look for seatbelt violations and impaired drivers. It is an illusion of safety, when it is really a revenue generating endeavor. The State profits from the imperfections of people. I am not threatened by unlicensed or un-belted drivers, nor am I threatened by someone who has a .1 blood alcohol level and competently operates their vehicle.
Fewer police does not mean more safety, it means more freedom to non-violent people. More police means a false sense of security by insecure or frightened people who want everyone to pay for their illusory safety.
Forget about police having a duty to protect you. There is no such thing. I’ve linked to court cases which say the same thing.
“Protect and to serve”, is as binding as “Good to the Last Drop”: IT IS ONLY A SLOGAN as the following court rulings clearly indicate:
Bowers v. DeVito, 686 F.2d 616 (7th Cir. 1982) (no federal constitutional requirement that police provide protection)
Calogrides v. Mobile, 475 So. 2d 560 (Ala. 1985); Cal Govt. Code 845 (no liability for failure to provide police protection)
Davidson v. Westminster, 32 Cal.3d 197, 185, Cal. Rep. 252; 649 P.2d 894 (1982) (no liability for failure to provide police protection)
Stone v. State 106 Cal.App.3d 924, 165 Cal Rep. 339 (1980) (no liability for failure to provide police protection)
Morgan v. District of Columbia, 468 A.2d 1306 (D.C.App. 1983) (no liability for failure to provide police protection)
Warren v. District of Columbia, 444 A.2d 1 (D.C.App 1981) (no liability for failure to provide police protection)
Sapp v. Tallahassee, 348 So.2d 363 (Fla. App. 1st Dist.), cert. denied 354 So.2d 985 (Fla. 1977); Ill. Rec. Stat. 4-102 (no liability for failure to provide police protection)
Keane v. Chicago, 98 Ill. App.2d 460, 240 N.E.2d 321 (1st Dist. 1968) (no liability for failure to provide police protection)
Jamison v. Chicago, 48 Ill. App. 3d 567 (1st Dist. 1977) (no liability for failure to provide police protection)
Simpson’s Food Fair v. Evansville, 272 N.E.2d 871 (Ind. App.) (no liability for failure to provide police protection)
Silver v. Minneapolis, 170 N.W.2d 206 (Minn. 1969) (no liability for failure to provide police protection)
Wuetrich V. Delia, 155 N.J. Super. 324, 326, 382, A.2d 929, 930 cert. denied 77 N.J. 486, 391 A.2d 500 (1978) (no liability for failure to provide police protection)
Chapman v. Philadelphia, 290 Pa. Super. 281, 434 A.2d 753 (Penn. 1981) (no liability for failure to provide police protection)
Morris v. Musser, 84 Pa. Cmwth. 170, 478 A.2d 937 (1984) (no liability for failure to provide police protection)
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Police Have NO Duty To Protect Individuals
THE POLICE HAVE NO DUTY TO PROTECT INDIVIDUALS!
There is much ado, particularly where I live in St. Clair County, about budget shortfalls and the resulting lay-offs of police. The media is commenting on possible “safety” issues and residents express concern over lack of protection. In reality, there is no protection by police. That is not their job. If it were, then there would be some remedy at law for their failing to protect anyone. People have made such a claim in the past and the courts have opined on the fallacious belief that police are for anyone’s protection.
People are responsible for their own protection. It is insane to think that another man will respond to a plea for help from someone he has never met in such fashion so as to prevent imminent harm, or to otherwise identify impending harm and prevent it. People disarm themselves and rely upon an emergency phone call to keep them from violence. Government prefers it that way, because for every case where an individual suffered harm, they ask for more money to pay more police; lending to the perception that one day we all will have our own armed guard.
Now, if police actually addressed crime, that being violent acts perpetrated by people against people rather than legislative prohibitions such as drugs, motor vehicles, ordinance violations… there would be less demand for such police and thereby lower budgets. It has gotten to the point where police inject themselves into our private affairs, not because they care for our safety, but because they are looking for any possible transgression for which to arrest someone and reap financial gain for the State through fines. This also applies to roadside checkpoints where they look for seatbelt violations and impaired drivers. It is an illusion of safety, when it is really a revenue generating endeavor. The State profits from the imperfections of people. I am not threatened by unlicensed or un-belted drivers, nor am I threatened by someone who has a .1 blood alcohol level and competently operates their vehicle.
Fewer police does not mean more safety, it means more freedom to non-violent people. More police means a false sense of security by insecure or frightened people who want everyone to pay for their illusory safety.
Forget about police having a duty to protect you. There is no such thing. I’ve linked to court cases which say the same thing.
“Protect and to serve”, is as binding as “Good to the Last Drop”: IT IS ONLY A SLOGAN as the following court rulings clearly indicate:
Bowers v. DeVito, 686 F.2d 616 (7th Cir. 1982) (no federal constitutional requirement that police provide protection)
Calogrides v. Mobile, 475 So. 2d 560 (Ala. 1985); Cal Govt. Code 845 (no liability for failure to provide police protection)
Davidson v. Westminster, 32 Cal.3d 197, 185, Cal. Rep. 252; 649 P.2d 894 (1982) (no liability for failure to provide police protection)
Stone v. State 106 Cal.App.3d 924, 165 Cal Rep. 339 (1980) (no liability for failure to provide police protection)
Morgan v. District of Columbia, 468 A.2d 1306 (D.C.App. 1983) (no liability for failure to provide police protection)
Warren v. District of Columbia, 444 A.2d 1 (D.C.App 1981) (no liability for failure to provide police protection)
Sapp v. Tallahassee, 348 So.2d 363 (Fla. App. 1st Dist.), cert. denied 354 So.2d 985 (Fla. 1977); Ill. Rec. Stat. 4-102 (no liability for failure to provide police protection)
Keane v. Chicago, 98 Ill. App.2d 460, 240 N.E.2d 321 (1st Dist. 1968) (no liability for failure to provide police protection)
Jamison v. Chicago, 48 Ill. App. 3d 567 (1st Dist. 1977) (no liability for failure to provide police protection)
Simpson’s Food Fair v. Evansville, 272 N.E.2d 871 (Ind. App.) (no liability for failure to provide police protection)
Silver v. Minneapolis, 170 N.W.2d 206 (Minn. 1969) (no liability for failure to provide police protection)
Wuetrich V. Delia, 155 N.J. Super. 324, 326, 382, A.2d 929, 930 cert. denied 77 N.J. 486, 391 A.2d 500 (1978) (no liability for failure to provide police protection)
Chapman v. Philadelphia, 290 Pa. Super. 281, 434 A.2d 753 (Penn. 1981) (no liability for failure to provide police protection)
Morris v. Musser, 84 Pa. Cmwth. 170, 478 A.2d 937 (1984) (no liability for failure to provide police protection)