I am curious if your niece stalled a mere block away from a gas station why, instead of pushing the vehicle for 10 minutes, you didn’t drive your vehicle over to the gas station and purchase gas? My thought is it would have taken the same amount of time. I am positive if this 19 year old girl had no one to call to help her, he would have assisted her in any way possible. Yes their motto is “To protect and to serve” and I think that police officer did exactly that. He was parked behind her with his lights on warning oncoming traffic of a stalled vehicle. That police car also protected you from being hit by an oncoming car while you moved the stalled vehicle. Why residents believe the police department is nothing more than a glorified AAA service is beyond me. If you feel the police officer didn’t have the positive attitude of Sheriff Andy Taylor maybe you need to remember we are not in Mayberry. These are normal people who have good days and bad, just like everyone else. Before condemning a police officer for not assisting you in pushing your nieces pickup, maybe you should be giving your niece a talk about filling her vehicle up with gas with the tank reads empty. Maybe it was a lesson she needed to learn, she probably won’t run out of gas again.
Shannon - 05:11pm on 11/13/2003
The officer never even got out of his car. I didn’t go for gas because her truck was blocking traffic. A total of 5 officers stopped, any one of which could have pitched in and moved the truck the 50 feet required.
My father was law enforcement for 20 years. I grew up with cops as my heroes. I do not think of my police department as a glorified AAA service.
I do think, however, that in my area law enforcement is trying to wriggle out of more and more of their responsibilities.
Its just my two cents.
Rob - 04:11pm on 11/15/2003
I realize the policy may seem silly, but if that officer is injured in any manner who wiil foot the bill for his medical costs? If he were to VIOLATE policy and help the girl, and then get injured as a result, workers compensation will not cover him. In addition, if he were to injure his back severly and not be able to perform the duties of patrol officer anymore he will not be eligible for a medical retirement because he VIOLATED policy. I’m sure the 19 yr. old girl will not help the officer and his family out financially for the rest of his life.
Steve - 12:01am on 01/18/2006
You talk about changes in city hall and how you grew up with cops all around you. Your Dad a state trooper. Go down to city hall check out Minot PD wages, retirement plan, insurance, life insurance, and medical Benifits, its available to the public. Then compare it to Troopers benifits and wages. Then look at the policies the Troopes have to follow, it black and white in the Law. If you need some help its in the century code. Now I’m not saying its about wages and benifits, but comparing troopers and municipal ploice is not the samething. Yes we do a lot of similar jobs by are governed by different rules. So before you jump to conclusions about one of the safest cities in North Dakota. Do some research. Don’t just vent, as you are not helping anybody but hurting many people’s reputation who are trying to do a thankless job. Would your father approve of you speaking like this about his fellow officers? Better yet, its people like your father, who for over 2 decades helped to bring honor and a good name to law enforcement and its people like your that ripping it apart in a few minutes!!! Thanks for supporting you City.
Kevin - 05:03pm on 03/01/2006
So Minot PD officers should sit in their cars and watch teenaged girls try to push their cars because they aren’t paid enough?
Great attitude, Kevin.
And don’t tell me who my dad is. He knows full well how I feel and, even having served honorably as a cop for well over two decades, shares many of them.
Honestly, the thing that put me off the most about this whole incident was not so much that the cop didn’t help but the way he treated us when I asked him a simple question. If there’s a policy that says he can’t help, fine. Whatever. But there’s no excuse for arrogance and rudeness. Cops get enough crap. As I pointed out in the post, things like this just serve to alienate them further from the public.
Rob - 08:03pm on 03/01/2006
Rob,
Is the motto still, "To Protect and Serve"? I know it used to be . . . it used to be on the cars and on the badges. Both my grandfathers were cops - - - one of them died while Chief of Police. My best friend is a cop . . . and it was he who brought up to me that the cars don’t say that any longer, nor do the badges. I imagine there are places where that motto is still evident, but I’ve been looking around and very few of the cars have it written on them.
CV Rick - 08:03pm on 03/01/2006
I’m not sure, Rick. The City of Minot PD website does have this statement:
The Minot Police Department strives to provide the best police services possible. We are a "community oriented" department and are very receptive to input from our citizens. We work very hard to keep our crime rate low and our streets safe. As we live here also, we have a personal interest in protecting and serving our city. Every citizen is important and we count each as a partner in making our city a better place to live.
I am curious if your niece stalled a mere block away from a gas station why, instead of pushing the vehicle for 10 minutes, you didn’t drive your vehicle over to the gas station and purchase gas? My thought is it would have taken the same amount of time. I am positive if this 19 year old girl had no one to call to help her, he would have assisted her in any way possible. Yes their motto is “To protect and to serve” and I think that police officer did exactly that. He was parked behind her with his lights on warning oncoming traffic of a stalled vehicle. That police car also protected you from being hit by an oncoming car while you moved the stalled vehicle. Why residents believe the police department is nothing more than a glorified AAA service is beyond me. If you feel the police officer didn’t have the positive attitude of Sheriff Andy Taylor maybe you need to remember we are not in Mayberry. These are normal people who have good days and bad, just like everyone else. Before condemning a police officer for not assisting you in pushing your nieces pickup, maybe you should be giving your niece a talk about filling her vehicle up with gas with the tank reads empty. Maybe it was a lesson she needed to learn, she probably won’t run out of gas again.
The officer never even got out of his car. I didn’t go for gas because her truck was blocking traffic. A total of 5 officers stopped, any one of which could have pitched in and moved the truck the 50 feet required.
My father was law enforcement for 20 years. I grew up with cops as my heroes. I do not think of my police department as a glorified AAA service.
I do think, however, that in my area law enforcement is trying to wriggle out of more and more of their responsibilities.
Its just my two cents.
I realize the policy may seem silly, but if that officer is injured in any manner who wiil foot the bill for his medical costs? If he were to VIOLATE policy and help the girl, and then get injured as a result, workers compensation will not cover him. In addition, if he were to injure his back severly and not be able to perform the duties of patrol officer anymore he will not be eligible for a medical retirement because he VIOLATED policy. I’m sure the 19 yr. old girl will not help the officer and his family out financially for the rest of his life.
You talk about changes in city hall and how you grew up with cops all around you. Your Dad a state trooper. Go down to city hall check out Minot PD wages, retirement plan, insurance, life insurance, and medical Benifits, its available to the public. Then compare it to Troopers benifits and wages. Then look at the policies the Troopes have to follow, it black and white in the Law. If you need some help its in the century code. Now I’m not saying its about wages and benifits, but comparing troopers and municipal ploice is not the samething. Yes we do a lot of similar jobs by are governed by different rules. So before you jump to conclusions about one of the safest cities in North Dakota. Do some research. Don’t just vent, as you are not helping anybody but hurting many people’s reputation who are trying to do a thankless job. Would your father approve of you speaking like this about his fellow officers? Better yet, its people like your father, who for over 2 decades helped to bring honor and a good name to law enforcement and its people like your that ripping it apart in a few minutes!!! Thanks for supporting you City.
So Minot PD officers should sit in their cars and watch teenaged girls try to push their cars because they aren’t paid enough?
Great attitude, Kevin.
And don’t tell me who my dad is. He knows full well how I feel and, even having served honorably as a cop for well over two decades, shares many of them.
Honestly, the thing that put me off the most about this whole incident was not so much that the cop didn’t help but the way he treated us when I asked him a simple question. If there’s a policy that says he can’t help, fine. Whatever. But there’s no excuse for arrogance and rudeness. Cops get enough crap. As I pointed out in the post, things like this just serve to alienate them further from the public.
Rob,
Is the motto still, "To Protect and Serve"? I know it used to be . . . it used to be on the cars and on the badges. Both my grandfathers were cops - - - one of them died while Chief of Police. My best friend is a cop . . . and it was he who brought up to me that the cars don’t say that any longer, nor do the badges. I imagine there are places where that motto is still evident, but I’ve been looking around and very few of the cars have it written on them.
I’m not sure, Rick. The City of Minot PD website does have this statement: