911 response time

[CobyRupert]

It's been maybe 30 years, but I did have a lady at my front door ask to use the phone. Her car had quit, and she needed help. I made her stand outside, while I retrieved the cordless from the kitchen. Today, anyone asking to use the phone is suspicious, particularly when virtually everyone today has a cell phone. Even I have a flip phone that I take with me when I'm on the road.

In all honesty I can imagine a scenario where OP was very justified.
I can also imagine a scenario where reaction was overblown.
I also know I don't know all the facts.
Perhaps I'm playing devil's advocate because I don't carry a cell phone.

 

[Birdhunter1]

I think she might be best served by carrying a pistol concealed on her rather than having it in a safe and away from her. It would keep someone from getting between her and a gun, as well as keeping small hands away. If she's careful of the selection and how it's carried, no one would know it is on her.

^^THIS^^^
I am a horse owner and farmer and always have at least my smallest pistol with me (S &W Shield 40 cal) and I hardly notice it and those that visit either know I carry it and never mention it or don't ever notice it.
That's the minimum that I carry when riding too.

I figure at least the same amount of time for a police response to my house, more if I am anywhere else on the farm. Go armed go often.

 

[Gary Fowler]

My inlaws gas grill caught on fire a few years ago. Somehow the tank started leaking and it got bad. They called 911 then videoed it. It took 17 minutes for the FD to get there. Sadly the nearest FD is less than 1,000 feet from there driveway, it's a volunteer FD.

A friend had his boat catch on fire. It was parked right next to his house and the boat fire spread to his house. His house burned almost to the ground before the fire dept put it out. The volunteer fire dept was directly across the road from his house. Even the most responsive emergency response personnel rarely get to the site early enough to prevent damage.
It has been said that police dont prevent crimes, they just investigate the results.

 

[oosik]

I have never had to call 911 and wait for LEO. We HAVE called 911 for ambulance service. It took 47 minuets for the ambulance/paramedic crew to roll into my yard.

With that firmly planted in my mind - YES, I DO have the necessary tools to defend. If I ever need the services of LEO.

 

[Ortimber]

In all honesty I can imagine a scenario where OP was very justified.
I can also imagine a scenario where reaction was overblown.
I also know I don't know all the facts.
Perhaps I'm playing devil's advocate because I don't carry a cell phone.

How long do you have to decide whether you are facing a friend or foe? What's the correct reaction?

 

[Steppenwolfe]

:devil: Devil's advocate here:

Real crime of the century: A guy walks up to your house and asking to use the phone....and.......??? :confused3:

Your wife screams bloody murder, yells "Get the gun!" and calls the cops. Why?

Do you have "No Trespassing" signs?

You ask him to leave and he does (while you're making (very thinly veiled) threats about shooting him). OK. Done. What's the crime?

So, what was her complaint to the police? What was HER suspicion based on?

What did the police do? Arrest him for existing? Excessive tattoos? Failure to drive a car? Pedestrian-ing without a cell phone?

Sounds like there was only one party (not counting the cops you brought) bringing gun play and threats of violence to the scene and creating a disturbance.

:confused2:

 

[Diggin It]

How long do you have to decide whether you are facing a friend or foe? What's the correct reaction?

Until the other party gives you reason to decide. Could be seconds or hours.

Whatever is appropriate to mitigate whatever threat is presented.

 

[Jstpssng]

I carry a cell phone provided by my employer. Most of the time I don't have strong enough service to make a call. I can drive for a week without seeing 2 bars on my signal meter. At least with Bluetooth I can now glance at the dash to check the signal, rather than messing with the phone. It's not uncommon to drive 20 miles trying to find service, or plan my day around making phone calls so that I can use my land line.
Words in a post really can't convey the exact situation, so only the OP knows the exact situation. Yet as I was reading his post I found myself wondering if his wife had overreacted. What if there had been an accident and the guy was looking to call for help? She called the right number, yet possibly for the wrong reasons.

A followup is in order, if the guy really was arrested for anything.

 

[turnkey4099]

For this area, 8 minutes would be a pretty fast response.

I don't know how many times I was the only county LEO on duty and be on the extreme limits of the county and get a call for the extreme limits on the other side of the county. City PD rarely leaves the city limits and many times late at night, state police may only have one or two troopers covering a four county area.

Ambulance is just as bad. While they're centrally located, many times they're asleep late at night when the call comes in, or they're at Walmart and I sometimes think they get a call, then head to the checkout counter before they worry about responding.

Yep, I dispatched for county and talking a person down some while waiting out a 15-30 response time was not fun. Worst was 3am (no deputies/state on duty) guy calls he is holding a couple guys at gun point who wee trying to steal gas. Had to call out deputies for a 30 minute run to the scene. I am only 4 miles north of town but if an ambulance is needed I can be at the hospital with my wife already in the ER before the ambulance is ready to leave town.

 

[turnkey4099]

I carry a cell phone provided by my employer. Most of the time I don't have strong enough service to make a call. I can drive for a week without seeing 2 bars on my signal meter. At least with Bluetooth I can now glance at the dash to check the signal, rather than messing with the phone. It's not uncommon to drive 20 miles trying to find service, or plan my day around making phone calls so that I can use my land line.
Words in a post really can't convey the exact situation, so only the OP knows the exact situation. Yet as I was reading his post I found myself wondering if his wife had overreacted. What if there had been an accident and the guy was looking to call for help? She called the right number, yet possibly for the wrong reasons.

A followup is in order, if the guy really was arrested for anything.

the OP did say he was at the back door. That alone raises it to DANGER!