When Strangers Show Up

[Bob_Skurka]

<font color="blue"> 45 minutes.... ridiculous. </font>

<font color="red">
45 minutes.... COMMON.


Don't bet your life on 911. The police are NOT there to protect you. They'll be there in time to take a report.

That's YOUR job. </font> <font color="green">
The police are NOT there to protect you. Wow, sounds kind of insulting to men and women of law enforcement. I personally take exception to that statement. /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif As far as response time goes in Baltimore County Maryland response time is usually around 10-15 minutes or less. Even calls to the country response time is no where near 45 minutes. </font>

I am friends with the #2 ranking officer in town (I live 6 mile outside of town and am not covered by his department), and I employ 2 police officers at my company. My view is that IF the police are able to, they will do everything they can to protect you. However, most times they cannot do that because they are on the scene after the fact. That is just the reality of it. The officers I know tell me that my view is pretty accurate.

My burglar alarm went off, my neighbor called me even before the alarm service called me. They had also called the sheriff. A few moments later my alarm service called me and they had called the sherriff. I left my office to drive home. My office is 17 miles north of my home, I arrived at the house before the sheriff arrived. It takes me at least 30 minutes to make the drive from the office to the house. I did a visual inspection of the exterior, I checked all the exterior doors, everything was locked, everything in tact. I entered the home (gun drawn) and did a search. One of the dogs had tripped a motion sensor by entering a room that was supposed to have been locked off (human error) so it was a false alarm.

I was calling the alarm company to report the status and heard a helicopter overhead. It was the sheriff. They were hovering over my driveway looking at my convertible. It took them at least 45 minutes to show up with a helicopter. At least 45 minutes!

Now I have no idea if they had 10 real emergencies that same day or not, but I do know that in the time span of 45 minutes there was all sorts of bad stuff that could have happened.

 

[Bob_Skurka]

<font color="blue"> 45 minutes.... ridiculous. </font>

<font color="red">
45 minutes.... COMMON.


Don't bet your life on 911. The police are NOT there to protect you. They'll be there in time to take a report.

That's YOUR job. </font> <font color="green">
The police are NOT there to protect you. Wow, sounds kind of insulting to men and women of law enforcement. I personally take exception to that statement. /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif As far as response time goes in Baltimore County Maryland response time is usually around 10-15 minutes or less. Even calls to the country response time is no where near 45 minutes. </font>

I am friends with the #2 ranking officer in town (I live 6 mile outside of town and am not covered by his department), and I employ 2 police officers at my company. My view is that IF the police are able to, they will do everything they can to protect you. However, most times they cannot do that because they are on the scene after the fact. That is just the reality of it. The officers I know tell me that my view is pretty accurate.

My burglar alarm went off, my neighbor called me even before the alarm service called me. They had also called the sheriff. A few moments later my alarm service called me and they had called the sherriff. I left my office to drive home. My office is 17 miles north of my home, I arrived at the house before the sheriff arrived. It takes me at least 30 minutes to make the drive from the office to the house. I did a visual inspection of the exterior, I checked all the exterior doors, everything was locked, everything in tact. I entered the home (gun drawn) and did a search. One of the dogs had tripped a motion sensor by entering a room that was supposed to have been locked off (human error) so it was a false alarm.

I was calling the alarm company to report the status and heard a helicopter overhead. It was the sheriff. They were hovering over my driveway looking at my convertible. It took them at least 45 minutes to show up with a helicopter. At least 45 minutes!

Now I have no idea if they had 10 real emergencies that same day or not, but I do know that in the time span of 45 minutes there was all sorts of bad stuff that could have happened.

 

[Doc_Bob]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( <font color="blue"> 45 minutes.... ridiculous. </font>


45 minutes.... COMMON.


Don't bet your life on 911. The police are NOT there to protect you. They'll be there in time to take a report.

That's YOUR job. )</font>

Protecting us is an "extra". Ask any cop, they are not legally required to protect us. No insult, just the facts.

When I lived in rural Illinois, the County Sheriff said he could get one of his 2 officers here in 45-60 minutes. Just in time to fill out the paperwork. He made it clear that a firearm would be a good first choice, assuming competency in its use. So, we have learned to be competent with 9mm, .38 and shotgun. Also, lot's of motion lights (got to save energy, off when not needed) and knowing are neighbors.

My neighbor chased off an insurance guy who came out to photograph my barn for a quote on a new homeowners policy.
The agent was very impressed. I told him my neighbors were vigilant and he learned first hand!!!

Bottom line, if you can't defend your home, you are screwed.
Bob

 

[Doc_Bob]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( <font color="blue"> 45 minutes.... ridiculous. </font>


45 minutes.... COMMON.


Don't bet your life on 911. The police are NOT there to protect you. They'll be there in time to take a report.

That's YOUR job. )</font>

Protecting us is an "extra". Ask any cop, they are not legally required to protect us. No insult, just the facts.

When I lived in rural Illinois, the County Sheriff said he could get one of his 2 officers here in 45-60 minutes. Just in time to fill out the paperwork. He made it clear that a firearm would be a good first choice, assuming competency in its use. So, we have learned to be competent with 9mm, .38 and shotgun. Also, lot's of motion lights (got to save energy, off when not needed) and knowing are neighbors.

My neighbor chased off an insurance guy who came out to photograph my barn for a quote on a new homeowners policy.
The agent was very impressed. I told him my neighbors were vigilant and he learned first hand!!!

Bottom line, if you can't defend your home, you are screwed.
Bob

 

[JimR]

Your lucky those guys weren't hardened criminals. You might be planning funerals right now. The video camera is a great idea if they never enter the house. But what if they see your kids taping them. What happens then? 45 minutes is ridiculus. In my town it is under 5 minutes for almost any response, even just a regular want to talk to them call. My last call to them was under 3 minutes. My property is protected by S&W and my wife knows how to use them also. Whe we are away, we have people stay here to take care of the animals.

 

[JimR]

Your lucky those guys weren't hardened criminals. You might be planning funerals right now. The video camera is a great idea if they never enter the house. But what if they see your kids taping them. What happens then? 45 minutes is ridiculus. In my town it is under 5 minutes for almost any response, even just a regular want to talk to them call. My last call to them was under 3 minutes. My property is protected by S&W and my wife knows how to use them also. Whe we are away, we have people stay here to take care of the animals.

 

[MotorSeven]

Good thing it worked out. I know they are not cheap, but for my place(1500+ foot driveway) i plan on a remote operated gate. Gates are a great first line of defense. Most guys like that would have driven on to a place with easier access when confronted with a gate. Of course there are dozens of other things that can be done(alarms,dogs,geese,cameras,booby traps /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif...etc) but difficult accessibility is at the top of the list.
RD

 

[MotorSeven]

Good thing it worked out. I know they are not cheap, but for my place(1500+ foot driveway) i plan on a remote operated gate. Gates are a great first line of defense. Most guys like that would have driven on to a place with easier access when confronted with a gate. Of course there are dozens of other things that can be done(alarms,dogs,geese,cameras,booby traps /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif...etc) but difficult accessibility is at the top of the list.
RD

 

[deere755]

I know 45 minutes is a long time but in rural America that is not uncommon. Our county some times has only one deputy on at a time and if you live in one corner of the county and they are on the other it can take a while.

 

[deere755]

I know 45 minutes is a long time but in rural America that is not uncommon. Our county some times has only one deputy on at a time and if you live in one corner of the county and they are on the other it can take a while.