Student Protesters Beat Cop With His Baton at USF

[BigDogatPlay]

If I was there, my first reaction was, ID myself as a PO, show credentials, give verbal commands for the assembly to disperse, and back up to officer, dress-right-dress, with off-duty firearm out at low ready twords the threat.

And as an off duty LEO I might consider the same as you. Every situation is different but if it looked like it could work and help the guy who's on the spot, then yes I'll take the chance and help a brother.

The OP's perspective was as a non-LEO coming into that situation to aid, and that is what I was cautioning against. That could become a disaster.

[jtmkinsd]

Ok, lets throw this into the mix... You are a newly minted CCW holder. Do you draw your weapon to prevent serious bodily harm to an individual??? Not sure what I would do, but I would have figured the answer out before I apply for the licence...

The rule of thumb is you don't draw unless you are going to shoot...and an "imminent threat" of death or great bodily harm must be evident.

[1911su16b870]

Roger that BD@P!

[EvolvedRaven]

You wouldn't be there for no reason, if you were there it's either you are wearing a Uniform getting paid or you are Protesting and wasting time...highly doubt anyone not in a uniform at that gathering would be helping a cop.

Anyway, if I was there for no reason and not there to protest at a protest, I would run to the middle of the crowd beating on the Officer, drop down the the ground and do a 360 whirlwind leg kick like Jet Li does...(hey it works for him...)

[Doheny]

[SoCalDep]

I got an idea...Just for that little show...Now it's a 10% increase instead of 8%...You wanna try again? 12% would be great!

Sucks to treat college kids like four year olds, but it seems more mature reasoning would fall on deaf ears.

[Scratch705]

sucks for the officer to be placed alone like that.

[Doheny]

He became separated from the officer he was with as the video below shows.

http://www.ktvu.com/video/25828298/index.html

.

[user5412]

Wow that video was disturbing. Not a good place to be as an officer and not a good place to be as a protester. Someone could have easily gotten shot.

Not nice at all. I think he was beyond justified, 30 vs 1 easy. Classic mob mentality: "Take his gun!"

[Mssr. Eleganté]

I couldn't figure out why UC cops were working a protest at USF or why USF students were protesting UC tuition hikes until I checked another news source and saw that the protests were really at UCSF. I guess it was just a typo on Glenn Beck's blog.

[retired]

I would think long and hard before drawing my weapon. Even as a cop it is a crap shoot. If I am off duty the next arriving officer may not know me (depanding on where I am) even if I have my ID out. If I show up as back up I promiss you I will be pointing a gun at you until we get things figured out. That is a dangerous situation for all.

Happened on my former dept. a long time ago to a deputy that I once worked with at the jail. Off duty, recently off training deputy got involved in an incident wherein he was detaining a felony suspect at gunpoint. Deputies from his station arrive, see stranger pointing gun at another and shoot man with gun.

It was later determined that he was in fact a new deputy at their station, but they did not know him (different shifts IIRC). Off duty deputy shot in kidney, made full recovery and blames only himself. He realizes how lucky he was.

I was involved off duty detaining two carjacking suspects in front of my house. I had my wife give a full description of me and my clothing, plus I was holding my badge nice and high for them to see. Ended well (well, not for the carjackers, they went to jail.).

[safewaysecurity]

This is what happens when you have a welfare state... you run out of other peoples money and then when cuts have to be made people get mad that they are not being gifted with the stolen fruits of someone elses labor. See the sign with the free healthcare for all? I can't stand this entitlement attitude.. who the hell pushes against a police officer like that... then they have the nerve to tell a lone officer surrounded by people who stole a baton to put his only means of defense away?

Also if you saw an officer being beaten with a baton I am sure it is then appropriate to tackle the assailant and help the officer in need. Imagine if the students actually got a hold of his gun.

[FLIGHT762]

Happened on my former dept. a long time ago to a deputy that I once worked with at the jail. Off duty, recently off training deputy got involved in an incident wherein he was detaining a felony suspect at gunpoint. Deputies from his station arrive, see stranger pointing gun at another and shoot man with gun.

It was later determined that he was in fact a new deputy at their station, but they did not know him (different shifts IIRC). Off duty deputy shot in kidney, made full recovery and blames only himself. He realizes how lucky he was.

I was involved off duty detaining two carjacking suspects in front of my house. I had my wife give a full description of me and my clothing, plus I was holding my badge nice and high for them to see. Ended well (well, not for the carjackers, they went to jail.).

Exactly the reason I carry a regular, full sized retired badge clipped to an open badge holder next to my O/D holster. It would suck to get whacked by arriving Officers after coming to someone's aid.

[ankyle62]

I got an idea...Just for that little show...Now it's a 10% increase instead of 8%...You wanna try again? 12% would be great!

Sucks to treat college kids like four year olds, but it seems more mature reasoning would fall on deaf ears.

"Well kids, after that incident we decided to hire more officers and it will now be a 15% increase"
Disgusting that college kids who are adults would act like that.

[The Director]

Even more disgusting some citizens with a spine didn't get in there and defend the cop. What's this country coming to. As if it's the cop's fault the tuition is being hiked.