Citizen assisting a cop in distress?

[EHStaley]

Hopefully I would never witness such an event, but would you want a citizen to stop and assist you if you were struggling with an individual (resisting arrest). If you were alone and back-up was not present, would you want assistance? If so, how should the citizen present themself to you? Again, I hope this never happens, but I would want to help if the officer was getting assaulted. Thanks guys.

[txinvestigator1]

If the officer is getting his a$$ whipped I would have wanted help. Tell the officer you are there to help him. Follow any command he gives you.

Last year a pursuit ended about 2 houses down from mine at night. We had been in the backyard and saw the police helo circling around for a while. The officer was alone and he had three subjects in the truck.

He had the subjects at gunpoint. I concealed my pistol and went out front. A couple of the male neighbors were coming out at about the same time. I told them we should not approach too close, as the officer did not need and additional area of control or potential danger.

We were about 30 yards away, and I yelled at the officer that 3 neighborhood men were watching and willing to help if if "those people" try anything. He waved his hand at us while watching the subjects.

Backup arrived shortly and all was well. We hung around and watched, and the officer came over and thanked us. Pretty cool deal.

[Kenpokev]

One of my associates was working plain clothes narcotics and was taking a guy into custody. There was a substantial difference in size between my pal and the perp. A fight ensued and a bystader started to pull him off the perp, thinking he was the attacker. Once my pal informed him he was a cop, the bystander turned on the perp and had him proned out in a second. He later apologized to my pal. Came to find out he was a former AAU champion wrestler and golden gloves champ...55+ and tough as nails.

Needless to say, my pal thanked him for the help :D

A couple years ago a female NHP officer got into a struggle with a suspect and ended up in a struggle for her weapon. A mechanic nearby came to her assistance and damn near killed the guy. He was rather pi$$ed that someone would: 1. fight a cop 2. hit a woman. Old school...gotta love it.

[Stump]

TX, why didn't you tell him you were a former cop ready to assist? I would think that would make him more comfortable than seeing 3 dudes (were ya wearing wife beaters? LOL) hanging out... just curious.

EH - how did it go today???

[txinvestigator1]

No wife beaters. heehee. We just wanted him to know we had his 6. ;)

[EHStaley]

Originally posted by Stump
EH - how did it go today???

Pretty good. All is well, now I just have to wait and do the PT next Friday morning. I am planning on passing and doing the written test that afternoon. Thanks.

[EricTheBald]

I've directed traffic at an accident scense, does that count? :D

[Oldbillplod]

I was fighting with a suspect once outside someones house when the owner opened the frontdoor and asked us to be quiet due to the noise, he then said 'Oh you're a police officer' and then closed the door to leave me to it.
Needless to say after the fight was over I paid him a visit to tell him his fortunes.

[hdpd.explorer k]

A incident happen to my friend in which while givin someone a citation for tresspassing the subject ran off.well my friend was not even near fast enough to catch up to the suspect. a man who had witness the event ran after and tacked the guy to the ground .the man after helping my friend get the suspect in the police car identified himself as a privete investagator and a former cop of the department.

[resqr1]

I have had numerous opprotunities to assist LE due to the nature of my job. The one that really sticks out is this:

I was working for a local security company assigned to patrol a rather large area shopping area. We had scanners in our vehicles due to our work with the PD. I heard a HELP go out and it was right across the street from me. When I heard the closest unit was about 4 miles away in traffic, I decided to respond. Upon my arrival, the officer was attempting to arrest a female and her male friend was on top of the officer. I identified myself to the officer and grabbed the guy off of him. I immediately put him to the ground and cuffed him. He was drunk and it wasn't much of a fight. The officer asked if I was ok and I said yes. He then requested that I put the guy in his car and help with the female. He had her arms wrapped behind her and under control but needed assistance handcuffing her. I used his cuffs and we had both suspects in custody by the time his back up arrived. I had no idea who he was until it was over, then I realized that we had worked together on numerous calls. He thanked me and told me that this is what he expected from me. The other officers were kind of surprised that we were ok when they got there. We switched out cuffs and they went to jail. I never did get called to court for it. They must have sobered up and pled guilty.

[Stump]

Babe, the difference though, is that you are a reserve. You probably had a security uniform on also, right? (Unless you carry them around with you ;) ).... a little bit of a difference.

[Chief_Wiggum]

Absolutely you should help. All you need to do is tell the officer you are there to help if he/she needs you. If the officer tells you no help is needed then fine, in most cases they'll acknowledge
you. Then, if something goes to crap jump in and help. Your help will defiantly be appreciated!

[resqr1]

I wasn't a reserve at the time of that incident. I was in uniform, but still identified myself. That is very important when assisting.

[WAMBAUGHREADER]

I work for a county S.O. and there are times when backup is far, far away. Feel free to help if imgetting my *** kicked but do let me know youre there to help me-if im losing and annother person looks like theyre joining for the kill, im gonna "kick it up a notch" and lethal force will be applied.

[Scruit]

What would be the clearest, most concise way of letting you know that I'm here to help you instead of help the perp?