Short and interesting video in Slidell, LA.



FYI LEO = law enforcement officer

Question:
At the 0:49 mark, the Good Samaritan asks, "Wanna hop in?"

Would you make that same offer to a LEO if you saw their suspects flee in a vehicle and you were in your vehicle?

Choices:
Hell Yes! I'm not a LEO.
Hell Yes! I'd be an off duty LEO.
Yes as long as I didn't have any passengers with me. I'm not a LEO.
Yes as long as I didn't have any passengers with me. I'd be an off duty LEO.
No. I'm not a LEO.
No. I'd be an off duty LEO.
Other - describe in comments

Question:
If you said yes to driving the officer, would your second or third question to the officer be, "Do you need more guns and ammo?"

Choices:
I did not answer yes to first question
Yes
No

 

In the early 1970's, I was working in a not very safe area of Kansas City doing canvassing for home remodeling. We drove past a grocery store and see an overweight security guard chasing a kid down the sidewalk. We drove up next to the kid and he had a smirk on his face and a pack of hot dogs in his hand. The guy driving was my boss at the time and a best friend, and he was as likely as anyone to get involved, but he didn't.

^^ Do you think your best friend would've gotten involved if it was an actual LEO chancing the guy instead of a security guard?

But I'm still not doing the Wing Suit thing...

I’m a retired LEO. I and just about everyone I worked with over 33 years would absolutely give the on-duty officer a ride and follow the suspects.

However—-since being retired means I no longer have LE powers, getting any more involved than that would have to be a case where the officer was in a fight with the suspect or getting shot at.

quote:

Originally posted by tatortodd:
^^ Do you think your best friend would've gotten involved if it was an actual LEO chancing the guy instead of a security guard?

If it was a policeman instead of a security guard would have made it more likely. If his brother had become a KC cop by then, which he did later, assuredly.

Engaging in a motor vehicle chase to help apprehend a shop-lifting suspect?!

NFW.

Well that was not a “motor vehicle chase”. She drove behind the suspect car, many cars behind and performed nothing beyond ordinary driving. If the LEO asked for more “exuberant” driving that would necessitate a different analysis. He did not. They merely drove along providing forward air control so to speak. They didn’t even participate in the actual stop.

In this limited case I probably would have helped. Mainly because thievery angers the shit out of me. Especially the brazen stuff so I might be inclined to make the wrong call. lol

No. As civilian, no qualified immunity. Anything happens and its your livelyhood.

quote:

Originally posted by pedropcola:
Well that was not a “motor vehicle chase”. She drove behind the suspect car, many cars behind and performed nothing beyond ordinary driving. If the LEO asked for more “exuberant” driving that would necessitate a different analysis. He did not. They merely drove along providing forward air control so to speak. They didn’t even participate in the actual stop.

In this limited case I probably would have helped. Mainly because thievery angers the shit out of me. Especially the brazen stuff so I might be inclined to make the wrong call. lol

Yep. As an LEO I'm ok with what was done here in this situation and quite possibly would have done the same (although I'd likely get my ass chewed for it later anyway), and I would have done the same were I the driver in an off-duty capacity.

I absolutely would not have encouraged or permitted the driver to to engage in any kind of active pursuit though, nor would I do such in my personal vehicle. I have done so off-duty in my marked squad on several occasions, but that's a different situation altogether as I technically was "on-duty" as soon as I told dispatch I was enroute.

It would be a total waste of time. Cite and release or the DA bargains it away or the judge sentences to a hug and a promise to try not to steal again.

quote:

Originally posted by berto:
It would be a total waste of time. Cite and release or the DA bargains it away or the judge sentences to a hug and a promise to try not to steal again.

To be fair, that's also true. Around here all she'd have to do is say she had asthma or some bullshit and the jail wouldn't even take her. But at some level it's hard to continue to live with yourself if you're not doing your job...even if you're the only part of the justice system that is.

quote:

Originally posted by sigmonkey:

But I'm still not doing the Wing Suit thing...

No where near enough information to offer
Assistance.

Some comments above are in retrospect. Not tha I disagree but decision is made outcome pending.

Perhaps an action might be to vacate your car and let the officer take it?

Not sure what I would do. But pretty sure I wouldn’t let any passengers go on the ride.

quote:

Originally posted by 92fstech:

quote:

Originally posted by berto:
It would be a total waste of time. Cite and release or the DA bargains it away or the judge sentences to a hug and a promise to try not to steal again.

To be fair, that's also true. Around here all she'd have to do is say she had asthma or some bullshit and the jail wouldn't even take her. But at some level it's hard to continue to live with yourself if you're not doing your job...even if you're the only part of the justice system that is.

Hard to argue with that being a whole lot of risk for nothing. But I appreciate the effort. Hopefully they at least got fingerprints and IDs of both lowlifes.

The thief was also charged with possession of meth, so at a minimum, she'll have to go out and score again.

quote:

Originally posted by berto:
It would be a total waste of time. Cite and release or the DA bargains it away or the judge sentences to a hug and a promise to try not to steal again.

Depends where you live. Also, depends on whether or not they're an organized shoplifting gang and had enough in their vehicle to be a felony.

Minutes from where I live, they busted two organized theft rings last week :

The first had hit several stores here and when they stopped them they had $6k in their vehicle. Five arrests for Felony Organized Retail Theft and four arrests for Misdemeanor Shoplifting. Of course, the icing on the cake was they had done the same thing in Lake County, CA, mid-Sept and that was obviously catch and release.

The 2nd was Cuban nationals and nailed 'em with $3500 in vehicle from 3 stores.

Pretty dumb for criminals to commit crimes in my county as we prosecute. They should stick to the other side of the county line and stay in Harris County (i.e. county that contains Houston) where they'll release a cop killers for couch change or less.

---

Ego is the anesthesia that deadens the pain of stupidity

DISCLAIMER: These are the author's own personal views and do not represent the views of the author's employer.

quote:

Originally posted by berto:
It would be a total waste of time. Cite and release or the DA bargains it away or the judge sentences to a hug and a promise to try not to steal again.

In Berkeley CA, of course. Elsewhere in many jurisdictions, yes, it would be worth the effort.

quote:

Originally posted by bendable:
No where near enough information to offer
Assistance.

"Baird’s friend, 43-year-old, Eric Boudreaux (Biloxi, MS), was waiting in the parking lot ..."

If you knew the accomplice was actually named

'BOUDREAUX', would you have answered 'yes"?

In NC if the officer asks for your help you are covered under his umbrella of qualified immunity (allegedly).

I’m in Texas now. But yeah I’d definitely help the cops(I’m a retired cop) out. I haven’t been in a car chase for a few years. Bonus is no paperwork!!