On September 20, Barry Gold wrote:
>> Yesterday, at a bus station, I noticed a security guard,
>> employed by a private contractor. He wore a uniform,
>> with a belt stuffed with gadgets, including a heavy baton.
>> In what circumstances is he authorized to swing that?
>
> In most states, he is authorized to use that baton only in the same
> circumstances as any other civilian: to defend himself or somebody else
> against attack.
So it's a bluff?
Which is probably worthwhile, as it doesn't cost anything,
assuming the 'cop' isn't trigger happy.
> It's also conceivable that he might use it in making a citizen's arrest,
> but the typical mall cop doesn't have a lot of training, and citizen's
> arrests are fraught with pitfalls that can get you sued.
> Unless the perp has stolen a bunch of expensive stuff or assaulted
> somebody, it probably ends there.
>
> I remember one episode of Adam-12: a homeowner had somebody who
> had committed a misdemeanor (I forget if it
> was stealing something, trespassing, or an actual assault). He called
> LAPD, and the two lead cops showed up.
> Since it was a misdemeanor, they couldn't arrest the perp.
huh?
> So they coached the homeowner through a citizen's arrest, then they put the
> cuffs on the guy and took him to jail.
I witnessed that once. A person was spit upon, he called 911. The cop said
"It didn't occur in my presence, but if you want to make the arrest, I can assist."
So he "assisted". And off they went - (not including the victim)
--
Rich