You Are in Charge of Your Own Personal Safety

You are in charge of you. It is that simple.

Police aren't required to protect you. In Warren v. District of Columbia (1981), the D.C. Court of Appeals ruled, "official police personnel and the government employing them are not generally liable to victims of criminal acts for failure to provide adequate police protection . . . a government and its agents are under no general duty to provide public services, such as police protection, to any particular citizen." In Bowers v. DeVito (1982), the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals ruled, "[T]here is no constitutional right to be protected by the state against being murdered by criminals or madmen." 

Do not put your family in jeopardy waiting for help to arrive. Consider these items:

*    Start with a plan. See my article entitled “What Stuff Should you include in a Family Action Plan” and “What Stuff Should be in a Safe Room”.

*    In an emergency, you have enough to do. Think through all the scenarios with your family. You will be surprised what the littlest member will come up with. Use this window into their world to find out what worries them.

*    Get the training you need. My students ask for first aid and defensive training. What else do you need to increase your confidence and you abilities?

*    Make the landscaping of your home an aid to your security. See my article entitled “Landscape to Enhance the Security of Your Home”.

*    Work with the neighborhood watch group or consider starting one.

*    Ask the police or sheriff what information they need when you call about an emergency. Law enforcement agencies hate responding to unknown incidents.

If you follow these ideas, you will increase your chances for a successful outcome to a very trying and stressful event.

Remember: You are in charge so make it count for you and for your family.

 

Bruce Hosea J & B Ventures, Inc. bruce@jbventuresabq.com
505 299 5034 (O)   505 239 4910 (C)    505 237 8092 (Fax)