Do you ever stop and give people roadside assistance?

Question

I am a Sheriff's officer, so part of the job. Off duty I do as well. I have a big priority on my own time to assist Blacks who have broken down, run out of gas or the like. Why? In those rare cases where it was me needing help, it was always a Black that stopped to help me. Sometimes with their family along. Worst problem I ever ran into was a woman complaining I was scratching her bumper with the jack while changing her tire. Not for everyone perhaps, but I have no fears. 45 years of this and nothing bad yet.

I also pick up hitchhikers. Can't stand seeing them in the rain. I have frequently got them a meal in a sit down restaurant and even bought them a bus ticket to Eugene, Portland, Reno or Las Vegas. Also, never a bad incident. I am an athiest. If something bad is going to happen it can as easily happen safely at home.

So many read things in to what I say. On the job, I help everyone equally regardless of race. Yes I tend to give favoritism to the disabled and elderly. Off the job, my time is my own. I can show favoritism. I clearly stated I favor helping Blacks because in EVERY case I need aid a Black person helped. As with me they don't seem to be afraid of helping. One additional thing: No! I prefer being unarmed off duty. So I don't have that making me brave.

Off duty, my personal vehicle, a 1976 Ford truck carries a nice tool kit, extra automotive fluids, a few emergency belts and I have an electric pump to flow my gas to another. As to the people saying I should not show preference to Blacks, your reading comprehension needs improvement. I do not show preference on duty. On my own time and money I can choose as I please. One additional thing, I am a Reserve officer. That means I volunteer my time and my only pay is some free coffee.

One thing that also needs answering. In case not obvious, I'm a man. Were I a woman, I am certain my willingness to help strangers would be quite different. In those cases, calling by cellphone to get them help is just as admirable as anything I am doing in my off time. And I don't want to suggest you take extreme risk. I have always seen if you are fearful, heed the warning. Just that I am not in fear doing this. Could change. If I become fearful of a situation, I might just drive on. THAT's OFF DUTY. On duty, I must respond regardless of any fear.

If anything considering religion was implied? Yes! I was thinking of the 23rd Psalm about walking through the valley of the shadow of death and fearing no evil, for Thou art with me." As you can see, I do so unarmed by faith.

I have to add another factor. Both on and off duty I admit I do better helping with olders cars. You see, on the newer cars, I can usually do so little. Maybe some fluid, gas or change a tire. The older the car the more I know anout fixing problems. On the newer cars all I can really do is call them a tow.
By the way my old truck may scare people a bit. And yes, I think I advertise I have nothing of value to take and that adds to the saftey of my actions.

Answer 1

If it's a woman, a young kid or a elderly person, I'll stop and see if they need a phone ( just in case they're one of those few who doesn't have a cell ) and possibly try to give them a hand if it's just a tire or something. If it's something bigger I'll wait with them for rescue, just so they're not alone. If it's a man, I might offer the phone but that's probably it. Not to be nasty but a woman on her own has to be a little more careful.
And yes I have also picked up hitchhikers when I had a truck and could give them a ride in the back. Being nice is one thing but putting yourself in potential danger is another.

Answer 2

Yes, If I feel safe I will help. Once my two sisters and I was driving to Arizona and our rental car just stopped for no reason just as we were pulling into the gas station. We met these ladies that had the same thing happened to their car (not a rental). They did not speak English very well and we spoke very little Spanish, but quickly we developed a bond. Five hours later, our replacement rental car came. All we had to do was transfer our belongings to the replacement car and we would be on our way home. The ladies that spoke very little English were still waiting without being able to contact anyone. Anyway, I could not in good conscious, leave those ladies behind. I asked them in my limited Spanish, where did they live. They lived about 15-20 miles away from me. So we loaded up the car and I dropped them off at their place. They were the most grateful ladies. They offered me money, but I did not take it, because their heartfelt thank you's were enough. You would be surprised at all the negative responses I got from co-workers, friends and family when I told this story. I was called a fool, stupid, I could have been killed for doing such a stupid thing and that I was so lucky that I made it home alive. What happened to helping those that are in need? I still help others, but I think twice before I do. We live in such sad times.

Answer 3

I have, and will continue to do so, simply because it is the right thing to do. Treat others the same way you expect to be treated, because what goes around, comes back around. Of course there are times that I'm not always comfortable with the circumstances, but I know that the Lord will watch over me. I also will help the homeless. But for the grace of God, there go I. While I will not give any one money, I will go buy food, even on my extremely limited income, the thought of another going hungry is something I can not turn a blind eye to.

Answer 4

Yes, and as a single woman sometimes it's kind of dicey, but I live in Alaska and it gets cold. I mean really cold. Additionally, here if you are seen not offering assistance you could be fined quite a bit. You could literally prevent a death by stopping to help. I have a tough time picking up a hitchhiker and know I'm putting myself in a precarious position by doing so, but on the odd occasion I do. I will add that we don't have many (if any) hitch hikers in the winter.

...always, Paying It Forward if I can.

Answer 5

I help people alot of times, only once did I pull away when I realized it was a bunch of drunk men (it was night and I was a 16 yr old by myself) ALWAYS ALWAYS if I know the person, and most of the time, otherwise. Don't pick people up, unless I know them, but I think as a woman that just smart, as I am generally going somewhere with my kids and chances are my husband isn't with me. I understand what you are saying that its sad that black epople probably don't get helped because of peoples prejustices (sp?) regardless of color, if the person looked like they needed help, I would probably help......... What point were you trying to make saying you were athiest? Just Christians help people? Don't think it mattered on the question and about turned me off from answering

Answer 6

It was dark the other night and I was heading to 7-11. I whizzed(not speeding) past a lone gal with her thumb out. It was about a mile to the main intersection so I turned around and she was soo grateful & said 'God bless you'. I told her the same.
Also, I used to take a long trek on the Riverside/Santa Ana Freeway to see my dad for the weekend. I only broke down one time. It was this long stretch w/no gas stations for miles. As my car went dead & I swayed over to right I noticed a station wagon behind me pulling over. The man got out & said can I help. Anyway he wound up taking me about 20 miles to my driveway then disappeared. An Angel?
Anyway at the office about a year later one of the girls had broke down and was complaining how nobody ever stops anymore to help. I didn't say anything.
Keep up the good work, SIR. Happy Halloween!

Answer 7

I have given assistance to many people. I find it quite gratifying. Plus its always great, when after you've started helping, others join in (ie: pushing car to gas station), because thats the way humans should interact; helping each other. Also, I myself have helped many blacks and a lot of times they seem to be the most thankful. One thing that upsets me is when traffic is stopped and people are honking at a stalled car, but nobody decides to help... don't understand that.

Answer 8

wow very sinical point of view, but I guess that many years with the force will do that! I stop and help as often as I can, doesn't matter to me what color someone is I help everyone. I belive that a good turn should be folded over and done again, I have been on both sides of this, had help and didn't given help and didn't. I feel better helping people then not.

Answer 9

If I'm by myself, I only stop if I know the person or people, or if it's a mother with kids. If I'm with my husband, we almost always stop, no matter what they look like. We're bikers too, and appreciate it when someone stops to help us when our bike breaks down. We've given rides to people, even going in the other direction, in order to get them home or to a gas station. We've put gas in their tanks, fixed flats, fixed their vehicles (when possible) and even wrapped them in blankets inside of our car because they were out in the weather too long. I agree with you, that if something bad is going to happen, it can happen even inside of your own home, with the doors locked. I don't think your faith, or lack of it, matters in the case of helping people. I think you do it because you've been in their shoes at one time or another, and know what it feels like to have cars blow by you, looking you right in the eyes and continuing on their way. It's called compassion, and it transcends race, color, faith, position, and age. Keep up the good work. <*)))><

Answer 10

No. I do not. I drive by and call for help on my cell phone. I live in an urban environment. I'm not naive.

Ummmm, I'm a little concerned that you feel the need to make assisting blacks your priority.

As a Sheriff, you should be helping all people. Just because a black person or several black people have helped you, you just don't help someone on the strength that they are black.
That's just as odd as when someone hates all blacks because they were robbed by a black person.

Mr. Sheriff, please use equality when helping stranded motorist.