Flasher:to collar. . .or not

[catch]

A cop in our area was dissed by the editor of the local paper because he, the cop, was off-duty and would not apprehend a flasher acting up in the downtown area.

I disagreed with the editor. This was not a life-threatening situation, and the on-duty cops arrived at the scene and arrested the offender. Why would the off-duty cop have to go back to work?

We don't know the cop's situation, what kind of day or week he had, how exhausted or sick he might have been, what kind of family or other responsibility he had to go and attend to. Leave the man alone.

But then I really don't know what the obligation of the off-duty cop was. What do you guys think? Should he have intervened? Do you have policies and expectations for off-duty policemen? Are you really on duty 24/7? Do you really have no controll over your personal life? What would you have done in this situation?

[Ranger__101]

Off duty officers have no duty to act in any event. We are only required to act while on duty. In fact is most if not all departments it is recommended not to get involved in situations at all and it is completly up to the officer discression if they choose to get involved or not.

It can actually be very dangerous for an Off Duty officer to respond to an event for these reasons.

1. On duty officers may not recognize the Off Duty officer.
2. The off duty officer may or may not be armed.
3. The off duty officer would generally not have a radio.
4. The off duty officer would generally not have a restraining device.
5. The off duty officer would generally not have backup with them at the time.


As an off duty officer I would have just gotten the best detail that I could have of the person and contact the local Law Enforcement via 911 and if I felt comfortable doing so continued to follow the person at a safe distance.

As you said the editor was completly out of line and I would be interesting in reading the whole story. Could you please post the whole story or a link.

When you think about it, Law Enforcement Officers while off duty have not more responsiblity to respond then a Fire Fighter, Ambulance Driver, EMT, Doctor, or any other profession and unfortunitally some of the members of the public have the general belief that these person are "on duty 24 / 7".

That's not to say that with many of these professions we are asked to be available in the event that staff need to be recalled to work. Those types of availability policies are worked out with each employer.

[mcsap]

I may wear an "S" on my chest on duty but thats only because I have my Superman outfit on. I try not to wear it off duty.

[mcsap]

I may wear an "S" on my chest on duty but thats only because I have my Superman outfit on. I try not to wear it off duty.

Every time I am on duty I am in full uniform, have ALL of my equipment , have a radio to advise dispatch that I am out with a person etc.

When I am off duty, nobody knows who I am , I only have my gun , NO other police equipment including no radio. It is NOT smart for an off duty LEO to intervene unless it is a life and death situation or some or substantially good reason.

A flasher isn't a violent criminal. Sure, he needs to be arrested but criminals will fight a lone officer much less some guy in a pair of jeans who tell shim that " he is under arrest". It is terrible officer safety to attempt such things off duty unless exigent circumstances occurr.

[catch]

Off duty officers have no duty to act in any event. We are only required to act while on duty. In fact is most if not all departments it is recommended not to get involved in situations at all and it is completly up to the officer discression if they choose to get involved or not.

It can actually be very dangerous for an Off Duty officer to respond to an event for these reasons.

1. On duty officers may not recognize the Off Duty officer.
2. The off duty officer may or may not be armed.
3. The off duty officer would generally not have a radio.
4. The off duty officer would generally not have a restraining device.
5. The off duty officer would generally not have backup with them at the time.


As an off duty officer I would have just gotten the best detail that I could have of the person and contact the local Law Enforcement via 911 and if I felt comfortable doing so continued to follow the person at a safe distance.

[]As you said the editor was completly out of line and I would be interesting in reading the whole story. Could you please post the whole story or a link.[]

When you think about it, Law Enforcement Officers while off duty have not more responsiblity to respond then a Fire Fighter, Ambulance Driver, EMT, Doctor, or any other profession and unfortunitally some of the members of the public have the general belief that these person are "on duty 24 / 7".

That's not to say that with many of these professions we are asked to be available in the event that staff need to be recalled to work. Those types of availability policies are worked out with each employer.
Here is the source of the question:

The Enquirer-Journal, Monroe, North Carolina
Editor: Stan Hojnacki/shojnacki@theej.com
OUR VIEW/Thumbs Up, Thumbs Down

THUMBS DOWN to news that a local police officer who reportedly had just ended his shift refused to help a local woman who had encountered a flasher in downtown Monroe. In some jobs, your shift may end but you are never really off duty. Police work is one of them. Fortunately, police have apprehended a suspect in the case, but the search would have been unnecessary if the original officer had responded to the complaint about a flasher who was still in plain sight on a downtown street. If the officer did not feel the call of duty to help a woman and children confronted by sex offender, perhaps he should think about a less demanding career.

I sent an email to the editor telling him why I disagreed with this.

[catch]

Sorry, I was trying to respond to Ranger's post. I haven't figured out how to do the quote thing. I made it confusing.