The state has no obligation to protect you or treat you. If a cop watched a murder happening in front of him and decided to do nothing, that's just too bad isn't it? That's a great service you're forced to pay for there.

>> ^blankfist:
The state has no obligation to protect you or treat you. If a cop watched a murder happening in front of him and decided to do nothing, that's just too bad isn't it? That's a great service you're forced to pay for there.


This is not black and white, ambulances were dispatched and could not make it through the snow. The only issue is if there was a policy regarding leaving the ambulance on foot in a life or death situation.

Blankfist, don't confuse police with 911, they are completely separate, and some municipalities (not monolithic state) don't even offer 911 (areas in South Dakota come to mind) because they don't want to charge/pay for it. Freedom!

Regarding your claim regarding police protection: This is completely untrue. The court ruling you cite only confirms that the police have discretion when it comes to ARREST, it says nothing of their responsibility when witnessing a crime (the officers in that case wrongly determined that there was no danger, but that mistaken determination wasn't criminal)

Regarding the supreme court: don't confuse civil liability with the policies of the 911 or police system in question. Are there mistakes, yes. Is policy always followed? No. Are all mistakes and violations of policy grounds for lawsuits? Absolutely not. The supreme courts focus is on fundamental rights granted by the constitution, due process and such, if those are not violated in the grounds of the case you are referring too (and the closely related child abuse case).

This event should NOT be used as anti-government propaganda, it doesn't even involve the federal or state governments, this is a local issue. If there is local outrage, then policies need to change and maybe more money needs to be spent on the emergency response system. I'm sure people die like this all the time in states with little or no emergency response and no one complains because they choose NOT to pay for such a system and the put responsibility in the hands of the individual to get to the hospital.