Assaults on Officers - Are We Victims?
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8/3/2008 8:00 PM
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Profshults
Join Date: November 2007
Posts: 2
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Assaults on Officers - Are We Victims?
I'm doing some preliminary research on victimization of police officers. My thesis is that we are among the most victimized demographic in the nation. My concern is that, while we don't want to be whiners, we also must recognize that our rights as victims of assault, threats, harassment, etc should be no less than other citizens. However, our prosecutors, supervisors, executives, and sometimes our peers and ourselves may have a pervasive attitude that taking a punch in the mouth is part of the job. I'm not so sure. I am running a preliminary survey to get some feedback on the issue. If you are a police officer please consider taking my survey and/or making some comments in this forum. Thanks.
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=o97_2flpqGwZ6yQDRHf757uw_3d_3d
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REPLY 1 - 4 of 4
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8/4/2008 7:56 PM
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#1
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Steve Rothstein
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 275
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RE: Assaults on Officers - Are We Victims?
It is a very common belief, in my experience, that there is a culture in law enforcement that says police officers cannot be victims. Even when we acknowledge we are the victim (aggravated assault or homicide), we do not allow ourselves to think of ourselves as victims.
How many officers have lost cases due to refusing to say they were hurt or in fear at the time? How many times have you heard that an officer cannot be the offended party in a case where the element includes being offended (such as disturbing the peace or disorderly conduct)?
We need to remember that we are citizens just like anyone else. We have all the rights of the other citizens too.
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8/4/2008 10:45 PM
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#2
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wolfva
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 114
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RE: Assaults on Officers - Are We Victims?
I remember taking a suspect in front of the Magistrate for shoplifting, assault, and eluding. The Magistrate glared down at me and said, "I'll sign off on the shoplifting, but I'm throwing out the assault and eluding. It's HIS job to get away from you any way he can, it's YOUR job to catch him. Getting punched is an occupational hazard." All I could think was, "Gee, if it's his job to get away then where's his time card? Do I have to sign it? What's the pay like?" Luckily, I didn't say that out loud. This particular magistrate wasn't known for having a sense of humor....
I got sued once for interfering with some rich kids fun (sure, they were vandalising private property but, being Princes of the Realm they were allowed, apparently). The attorney asked why I pulled my firearm, I stated I was in fear of life (one suspect kept reaching under the vehicle seat after being ordered to stop). He tried to turn that statement into an admission that I was terrified and panicking, wrapped up in fear. I had to point out, several times, that 'fear of life' means the officer recognises that the conditions are such that if he does not take drastic action then his life, or another innocent person's life, may end.
It seems to me that we're stuck between the rock and a hard place. We are human, but we're not expected to be. If we admit to being scared it can be used against us.
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9/9/2008 7:53 AM
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#3
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oldhag
Join Date: October 2007
Posts: 64
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RE: Assaults on Officers - Are We Victims?
Now, whoa, wait a minute, the "most victimized demographic in the nation?" Most ordinary citizens believe that taking some type of abuse is part of a regular persons life. If we didn't, none of us would survive.
If anything, I notice that the police far outnumber the arrestee(s) in a confrontation. If 10 police officers are confronting 1 person, who's going to "win?" In the street and in the courtroom, it is usually the police officers, because majority overrides everything else. Last edited @ 9/9/2008 8:48 AM
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9/9/2008 9:01 PM
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#4
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oldhag
Join Date: October 2007
Posts: 64
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RE: Assaults on Officers - Are We Victims?
... Last edited @ 9/9/2008 9:17 PM
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