And the above is the reason so many of us will not participate.Papabear37 wrote:Galveston doesn't have COP yet but they are working on it. In the mean time, we were trained to work as citizens policing handicapped parking spaces. We will be sworn in soon and will patrol, in pairs, and issue citations when a handicapped parking violation is found. I'm lookinmg forward to working in that capacity.
None of us are waiting for someone to "make our day" but I can sure see BIG trouble when "citizen" tries to write a citation on a vehicle parked in a handicapped spot. Owner inside applying for job. That was the only spot w/o walking a good long way. Owner comes out, his 17th day out of TDC for possession of crack & armed robbery, mad cause the place wont give him a job as accountant, hungry & the air conditioned gym "back there" is lookin pretty good right now.
Radio. You bet. Your backup is only 90 seconds away (best case) (probably closer to 4 minutes) as he slaps the radio out of your hand. Helper scrambles for the patrol car to defend both of you w/ another radio call for backup.
BTW - For above reason stated, I would not issue sitations as a Citizen On Patrol if I was armed open carry w/ 2 other CITIZENS standing there w/ shotguns.
Lot of BGs out there dont care about a Badge. LOTs of BGs out there dont care for those they perceive as "Wanna be cops."
Sooner or later I see BIG trouble w/ anything past patrol & radio for an officer.
Again my .02cents & some think it worth about half that.
LT