*** Quoting Tom Rightmer to Glenn Vermette ***
TR> UM?, I don't remember a debate on this topic in this echo, just a
TR> simple
TR> question from a citizen that I attempted to answer. I believe
TR> there was a
TR> debate on this topic in ASKACOP2 some time ago, but this
TR> continues to be a
I wasn't talking about having a debate about it here...I was talking about 
how it's not appropriate to have a debate about it on the street when it's 
happening....debate it all you like here...
TR> the crap is hitting the fan on the street that an officer can
TR> require
TR> assistance from a citizen. An understanding on the citizens' part
TR> that this
TR> assistance is mandatory may prevent a debate between mental
TR> midgets on the
TR> street when lives are at stake. If police officers refuse to share
TR> information such as this with the public, it would appear that
TR> the officers
TR> would be the mental midgets. You would be surprised how many good
TR> citizens
TR> are willing to help an officer when the crap hits the fan, with
TR> or without
TR> their knowledge of laws pertaining to civic duty. What amazes me
Sure, sounds good to me....except anyone who NEEDS TO BE TOLD that it is 
their duty (legal, moral, or otherwise) to assist the police, usually aren't 
worth any help they'd every provide in an emergency situation.  It's those 
people that want to have a debate about it on the street before they do 
anything, and as a result they are useless in those situations as well.  Now 
people who will just automatically react and help in an emergency don't need 
to be told it's the law, as they'd do it anyway without hesitation, without a 
debate, and those are the ones that are very nice to have around...sadly they 
are few and far between.
TR> their knowledge of laws pertaining to civic duty. What amazes me
TR> is the level
TR> of your anger over such a simple question. One of the primary
TR> purposes of
TR> this echo is citizens asking questions and officers providing
TR> answers.
No anger here....and I agree with you completely...it's just that in some 
cases (the car commandeering issue for example), the people end up realizing 
that they already had the answer, they just didn't THINK about it before they 
pounded out the keys...
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