Immunity while aiding Law Enforcement

[atlctyslkr]

I started a thread like this over on THR
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=206271 and I just had to post it over here! I couldn't leave you guys out of the loop!

I always assumed we had such a law but I didn't know where it was until it was pointed out to me.

http://www.legis.state.ga.us/cgi-bin...l?code=16-3-22

Feel free to post the laws (or lack there of if you know no such law exists) for your state.

[Capt. Charlie]

Good thread! But better served in Legal & Political, I think. Off you go-o-o!

[Eghad]

http://www.legis.state.ga.us/cgi-bin...l?code=16-3-22

your link was broken

[Mannlicher]

I can't imagine any scenerio where it would be in my interest to aid Law Enforcement in the first place.

[garand_shooter]

I can't imagine any scenerio where it would be in my interest to aid Law Enforcement in the first place.

Funny, I thought the idea of rendering aid was to be in the interest of the person needing the aid. Boy, don't I feel stupid for taking that little old lady's shovel from her and digging her car out for her last winter.


On the downside, the code only grants criminal immunity, it says nothing about civil liability.

[DonR101395]

I can't imagine any scenerio where it would be in my interest to aid Law Enforcement in the first place.

How about because he needs a hand.
How about because his family might appreciate it.
How about because it doesn't have to be in your interest, but can just plain be the right thing to do.
Police officers do many things everyday that aren't in their interest. Some would say that's what they get paid to do. Is getting/giving gas to a stranded motorist in their interest, is giving directions to a lost motorist in their interest, nope but they do it because it's the right thing to do.
Maybe some wouldn't stop and help, but I have and will in the future if the need arises.

From a personal experience I had in 1987, an IL State Police Trooper paid for my gas and accepted my check after the clerk called him because the Oasis in Chicago doesn't take checks. He came, I explained that I had just driven across the country on leave, I couldn't see their little sign from the pumps and was an hour away from home only to have the cops called because I didn't have $5.00 cash for gas. He talked to the cashier, she was rude to him, so he paid her and took my check. It wasn't in his best interest, but he felt it was the right thing to do. The best part was listening to her bi#$% at him because I blocked the pump island for an hour waiting for him to get there. I explained to him that I didn't want her to claim I tried to drive off, he thought it was a good idea gave me a wink then we went outside and talked about dogs and guns for another 45 minutes at the pump. To this day I still remember Trooper Love (forgot his first name) and how he did something for me that wasn't in his interest, and definately wasn't his job.

[rmagill]

she was rude to him... The best part was listening to her bi#$% at him because I blocked the pump island for an hour waiting for him to get there. I explained to him that I didn't want her to claim I tried to drive off, he thought it was a good idea gave me a wink then we went outside and talked about dogs and guns for another 45 minutes at the pump.

LOL, that is hilarious. "Sorry to block the pump for another 45 min. I didn't want to drive off while the officer you called was talking to me". Gotta love it.


Mannlicher:
Besides it being a decent, human, and arguably American thing to do, consider this: those who would attack/kill a LEO (who at the time represents the governing authority), would not hesitate to harm or kill you if it served his best interst. This reminds me of the following quote:

"First they came for the Communists but I was not a Communist so I did not speak out;
Then they came for the Socialists and the Trade Unionists but I was not one of them, so I did not speak out;
Then they came for the Jews but I was not Jewish so I did not speak out.
And when they came for me, there was no one left to speak out for me."
Martin Niemoller

If we do not help those who are oposing evil when they need help, no one will be left to help when evil is coming after you. Just something for us to think about when a LEO, or anyone for that matter, is getting killed/attacked and needs our help and we decide to do nothing about it (not saying to get involved with everything, but do not not get involved because it does not immediately benefit you).

Now, to answer the original request:
here is a link to PA's crimes code as it relates to LE and a citizen's ability to aid in LE.

[johnsonrlp]

I can't imagine any scenerio where it would be in my interest to aid Law Enforcement in the first place.

Wouldn't it be great if everyone in America only acted in their best interest.

But seriously, LEO's are there to fight crime. Unless you LIKE crime, or are involved in criminal activity, I fail to see how helping to rid your neighborhood of crime is not in your interest.

"We must all fear evil men, but there is an evil that we must fear even more....and that is the indifference of good men." The Boondock Saints

As an alternative you could move to one of those ghettos that the police don't visit, nice places those...

[hsim]

I can't imagine any scenario where it would be in my interest to aid Law Enforcement in the first place.

I have several LEO friends, and this topic of discussing comes up on a regular bases.

1. If LEO are involved in a incident where they may suspect gun play, you certainly don't want one in your hands at that time
2. Your best weapon are your eyes and ears, see all, hear all, pass on the information.
3. LEO are no different then anyone else, they go to work every day to earn money so they can have a life out side of work. They also want to go home every night to their families. In other words if someone is standing over an LEO and he's on the ground with no means to defend him/her self, shoot the SOB. You would do it for a complete stranger if the circumstanced arises, why not for LEO?

[adephue]

I'm taking a college-level science course with a LEO. He's a good guy. If he needed a hand and I could offer genuine assistance... he can count me in.

Mannlicher, please... please... PLEASE... rephrase your statement or shed some light on the mentality behind it. Some part of me refuses to believe that any freedom loving, gun owning, respectable member of our society (and forum) could actually stoop to that bottom-feeding level of abject absurdity.

I think it would be funny if an off-duty officer stopped to help you change your next flat tire... or better yet, saves your life.