Are the police required by law to come to the aid of another person?

Answer 1

Yep they must assist another person if it involves some form of civil or criminal activity. They do not have to unlock your locked vehicle or help you into your home if you are locked out and nope if your cat is up a tree you are S.O.L.

But by the same token a police officer can order you to come to his aide and failure to do so will lead to your arrest

Answer 2

No we are not your public nanny if that is what you are asking. The only aide we are required to provide is the aide neccessary to save the life of someone as long as our lives are not put at a substantial risk. Other than that it is all just a job description. So when your car has a flat tire and you are on the shoulder you should realize I am not your biyatch. If I stop it is because I am doing so out of the kindness of my heart. If I pass you by I am most likely on my way to a call for service. You know there is a whole other world out there that does not involve you. So how bout you get some testicular fortitude and grow a pair.

Answer 3

Everybody talks about the Oath "to protect and serve" which is beginning to be a pain because there is so much more to it.
Yes, we should come to a person's aid and there are some circumstances where we have a statutorily defined duty, but I don't know of a specific "LAW TO HELP SOMEONE", other than it is obviously in our job description.
I have never heard of an officer being arrested because of some "law" that doesn't really exist. It is more in our nature to do this and from training. I became a cop because I wanted to help people.
When I stopped to help somebody off-duty and they saw the badgge, they knew I was there to help them, not carjack them or something and it felt good to help.
So, I am not sure what you question really means other than to say cops help because it is their nature.

Answer 4

They do have to render aid, but the misconception is that they must also put their lives on the line. Many will, but sometimes they will be called off. The same is true for fire fighters and paramedics. They are going to do their best to try and save someone, but they are not going to put officers lives at too high of a risk.

A good example of this is knowing there are people still inside a burning building. Whoever is in command of the scene can order the firefighters to evac the building if it gets too dangerous for the firefighters to still attempt to save people.

Answer 5

Police are in place to keep peace and protect society at large. In most cases, yes, a police officer would be going against his/her oath if they didn't help a person in distress. However, if that person is endangering other people or they have a chance to help more than just the one person, an officer must way the needs of the one against the needs of the many. It's a grey area. There are not a lot of definate rules.

Answer 6

Not necessarily. The police are there to protect society and the general welfare, not necessarily individuals. This has been the basis of absolving police officers for failing to show up to reported criminal activity in civil trials.

Answer 7

There's no criminal statute that I'm aware of, but if a police officer fails to render aid when it is safe him to do so, he and the department may be liable for negligence. (Same thing with lifeguards, firefighters, etc. Basically anyone who has a "duty".)

Answer 8

If they don't, then they better scrape off that motto that you see on most every police vehicle, "to protect and serve". This means to protect and serve the public, not themselves.

Answer 9

No, I asked the Police for help once and they declined.

Answer 10

It would kindof defeat the purpose of a police force if they didn't