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The Straight Story

(48,121 posts)
Fri Jan 13, 2012, 03:09 PM Jan 2012

"the court said there is no individual right to police protection"

Not sure how one would interpret that...


But the New Orleans-based 5th Circuit found otherwise last week, relying on the Supreme Court's handling of DeShaney v. Winnebago County Department of Social Services. In that controversial 1989 case, which involved a 4-year-old boy, Joshua DeShaney, beaten to the point of severe mental retardation by his father, the court said there is no individual right to police protection.

"Seeking to avail themselves of the DeShaney special relationship exception, the Cantrells argue that, like individuals who are in foster care or who are otherwise in the custody of the state, Matthew had a special relationship with the officers," Stewart wrote. "According to the Cantrells, this special relationship, along with a corresponding duty of care and protection, was created when the officers took 'custody' of Matthew by physically separating him from his mother. The officers breached this duty, the Cantrells contend, when the officers failed to administer aid and delayed treatment from paramedics"

But the three-judge panel took a different view. "This line of cases is materially indistinguishable, and therefore could not have provided reasonable officials in the officers' position with notice that they had an affirmative constitutional duty to provide medical care and protection to Matthew," Judge Carl Stewart wrote for the court.

http://www.courthousenews.com/2012/01/13/43035.htm

24 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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"the court said there is no individual right to police protection" (Original Post) The Straight Story Jan 2012 OP
There's a long line of cases with similar results. X_Digger Jan 2012 #1
That slogan is incomplete. Guess they couldn't afford more paint... BiggJawn Jan 2012 #2
Yet, they do it thousands of times each day. Hoyt Jan 2012 #5
Not 'difficult'- the police are under no obligation to protect you, the individual.. X_Digger Jan 2012 #6
Actually, it is not. Few policeman will remain employed if they refuse to respond. Hoyt Jan 2012 #7
Find a single case, Hoyt. A single case. X_Digger Jan 2012 #8
You are confusing two concepts shadowrider Jan 2012 #9
Even 'respond' isn't a legal obligation. X_Digger Jan 2012 #10
I stand corrected n/t shadowrider Jan 2012 #11
Yet they fail to stop crime thousands of times each day. E6-B Jan 2012 #13
And that is why you need a 30 round magazine... ellisonz Jan 2012 #14
The reason... discntnt_irny_srcsm Jan 2012 #15
See this why I don't take... ellisonz Jan 2012 #16
No... discntnt_irny_srcsm Jan 2012 #17
Oh btw... discntnt_irny_srcsm Jan 2012 #20
You need 30 magazines and the smallest room in your house. nt SteveW Jan 2012 #24
K&R pipoman Jan 2012 #3
a lot can happen in 5 minutes. but, yeah, I get the point. Tuesday Afternoon Jan 2012 #18
Gonzales vs. City of Castle Rock. AtheistCrusader Jan 2012 #4
Riss v. City of New York, Warren v. District of Columbia... Euromutt Jan 2012 #23
I see that our local"They HAVE to help me. I am part of the public" oneshooter Jan 2012 #12
if you are being held in custody or, if you are a witness in certain trials, one can expect the Tuesday Afternoon Jan 2012 #19
If you are in the custody of law enforcement oneshooter Jan 2012 #21
required to do their best but, you and I both know that where there is a will there is a way. Tuesday Afternoon Jan 2012 #22

X_Digger

(18,585 posts)
1. There's a long line of cases with similar results.
Fri Jan 13, 2012, 04:11 PM
Jan 2012

It surprises some people who take the 'to protect and serve' painted on the cars as gospel, but police have no legal duty to protect you unless you are in custody (or other circumstances that meet the 'special relationship' criteria.)

BiggJawn

(23,051 posts)
2. That slogan is incomplete. Guess they couldn't afford more paint...
Fri Jan 13, 2012, 06:39 PM
Jan 2012

It's really "To Protect and Serve Rich White People's Property".

 

Hoyt

(54,770 posts)
5. Yet, they do it thousands of times each day.
Sat Jan 14, 2012, 02:49 PM
Jan 2012

These cases simply mean that it is difficult to prevail in a court action against the police. It does not mean most police aren't going to help anyway they can.

X_Digger

(18,585 posts)
6. Not 'difficult'- the police are under no obligation to protect you, the individual..
Sat Jan 14, 2012, 03:02 PM
Jan 2012

absent special circumstances.

It's just that simple, Hoyt.

 

Hoyt

(54,770 posts)
7. Actually, it is not. Few policeman will remain employed if they refuse to respond.
Sat Jan 14, 2012, 03:05 PM
Jan 2012

Like most legal cases, you guys take everything out of context to rationalize your gun agenda.

shadowrider

(4,941 posts)
9. You are confusing two concepts
Sat Jan 14, 2012, 03:44 PM
Jan 2012

1) To protect implies they will be there to protect you from criminal activity. They are under NO obligation to do so.

2) To respond - They are REQUIRED, simply by their job, to respond to reports of a crime, draw a chalk outline around your dead body and to find the perpetrator of the crime. They were under NO obligation to prevent the crime from happening to you in the first place (To protect).

Therefore, when seconds are needed, the police are minutes away. I prefer to have the ability to protect myself until the police arrive.

X_Digger

(18,585 posts)
10. Even 'respond' isn't a legal obligation.
Sat Jan 14, 2012, 09:22 PM
Jan 2012

Warren v District of Columbia is the example of that-

[div class='excerpt']Upon receiving no answer, the officers left five minutes after they had arrived. Nine minutes later, the two women called the police again and were assured they would receive assistance. This call was never dispatched and the police never came.

Appellants' claims of negligence included: the dispatcher's failure to forward the 6:23 a.m. call with the proper degree of urgency; the responding officers' failure to follow standard police investigative procedures, specifically their failure to check the rear entrance and position themselves properly near the doors and windows to ascertain whether there was any activity inside; and the dispatcher's failure to dispatch the 6:42 a.m. call.

discntnt_irny_srcsm

(18,479 posts)
15. The reason...
Sun Jan 15, 2012, 05:22 PM
Jan 2012

...you need a 30 round mag is...


Anything worth shooting is worth shooting twice, twice more if it returns fire.

 

pipoman

(16,038 posts)
3. K&R
Sat Jan 14, 2012, 09:43 AM
Jan 2012

If for no other reason, concealed carry (or some form of carry) and liberal latitude in defense of home/vehicle/business must be upheld at every challenge in the courts. Those places which do not allow or make ownership of firearms too difficult, should be held to a much higher standard regarding a responsibility to defend and protect. For instance, in DC the police should be required to respond to any call within 5 minutes and to engage immediately rather than waiting around for backup, or be held civilly responsible for any harm done by their failure to respond and act very quickly. In these shrinking enclaves of authoritarianism law enforcement should have a responsibility to protect everyone...we would see how fast MAG and professional police politicians change their position on private ownership if this burden was shifted to their budgets.

oneshooter

(8,614 posts)
12. I see that our local"They HAVE to help me. I am part of the public"
Sun Jan 15, 2012, 11:28 AM
Jan 2012

Has decided to ignore this thread.

I wonder why?

Oneshooter
Armed and Livin in Texas

Tuesday Afternoon

(56,912 posts)
19. if you are being held in custody or, if you are a witness in certain trials, one can expect the
Sun Jan 15, 2012, 07:30 PM
Jan 2012

police to, at least, TRY to protect you.

oneshooter

(8,614 posts)
21. If you are in the custody of law enforcement
Sun Jan 15, 2012, 07:49 PM
Jan 2012

They are required to protect you.

Oneshooter
Armed and Livin in Texas

Tuesday Afternoon

(56,912 posts)
22. required to do their best but, you and I both know that where there is a will there is a way.
Sun Jan 15, 2012, 07:50 PM
Jan 2012

very few absolutes in this world.

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