Posted on 03/07/2012 5:46:37 AM PST by marktwain
[Click here to listen the 911 call made from a private residence in Springville Utah where a home owner shot and killed an invader.] This series has long argued that there are two parts to armed self-defense. Defending yourself against a lethal threat and defending yourself against prosecution for defending yourself against a lethal threat. Just as the first rule of a gunfight is have a gun, the first rule for staying out of jail and/or losing everything you own due to defensive gun use is STFU (Shut The F Up). That rule starts from the moment you call the cavalry. Here’s the 411 on 911 . . .
1. Make the call as short as possible
911 operators are trained to keep the caller on the line as long as they can, until the first responders make the scene. You are under no legal obligation to remain in contact with the operator.
By the same token, the 911 operators are trained to extract as much information from the caller as possible. You are under no legal obligation to answer any of the operator’s questions.
Never forget that anything you say on a 911 call can and will be used against you in a court of law. Anything. And the way you say it.
Communicate the basic information necessary: the situation (there’s an intruder in my house/there’s been a shooting), your address, a description of yourself and the medical condition of a wounded friendly (if applicable). After that? Nada. What else do the cops need to know? Nothing. Not a damn thing.
2. Either hang up or put the phone down as soon as possible
Once you’ve shared the key info, either hang up or put the phone down. The former is the best strategy if the DGU is done. The latter is the best option if the situation is in progress.
If you throw the phone down—an excellent idea from a strategic/situational awareness point of view—remember that you’re being recorded.
Use that to your advantage. If it’s safe to do so, yell a warning to the intruder. “The police are on their way. I’ve got a gun. Don’t make me me shoot you.” Over-zealous prosecutors hate that stuff. Juries love it.
Again, it’s not just what you say, but how you say it. If you start swearing, laughing (even nervously) or go for some Clint Eastwood-like line before pulling the trigger, that will NOT work out well for you.
3. Do not discuss the 911 call with the cops
Police/detectives arriving on scene will try to extract as much information from you as possible. The cops may try and use information from the 911 call to get you to talk before you lawyer up. Lawyer up. Tell them “My life was in danger” and “I will answer all your questions after I speak with my attorney.” And . . . that’s it. Nothing else.
Don’t be fooled by 911 operators’ good intentions (which are beyond doubt). They are not trying to get you into trouble. But by God they can.
I know it’s difficult not to tell a helpful stranger anything they want to know in a time of grave danger. But give them the basics and STFU. Don’t give law enforcement and the perp’s lawyer the ammunition they need to turn you from an armed self-defender into a victim of the legal system.
You are welcome. It is part of what I consider my internet chores.
Only if you are 100% sure it will come back clean. Otherwise, I would forego that step. No sense handing the prosecutor any evidence of impairment.
The reason my instructor told us to do that is it is common for a rogue prosecutor to claim “physical impairment” in their prosecution, ie... he must have been drunk, he must have been high, etc. this is to protect you from this type of attack.... but, like you said, if you are not sure it will not come back clean, do not do it... and if you choose to do it, do not make it part of your diagnosis, just ask kinda under your breath...
911: 911, where is your emergency?
Caller: I AM the emergency!!
(Fellow barricaded in an apartment booby-trapped with black powder bombs, grenades & armed with an AK47).
It was an interesting conversation. :-)
However, if impaired chemically, I would hesitate to reach for a firearm in the first place.
That's what my pepper spray, club and tomahawk are for. =;^)
Reference Bump!
Wow! Just wow. Don’t leave us hanging!!! What happened? How did you deal with him? The poor soul ... As Doc Holliday said about Johnny Ringo, “He was just too high-strung.”
You are correct. That said, removing the battery will end any cell call.
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If you put the battery back in, for instance, to call your lawyer, does it reconnect to 911?
You are correct. That said, removing the battery will end any cell call.
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If you put the battery back in, for instance, to call your lawyer, does it reconnect to 911?
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Miss Magnolia you might know this answer?
That question is beyond my pay grade :-)
A month ago I had to call 911 for a medical emergency. At the ER I tried to notify my family of the situation. My Blackberry showed "911 emergency mode" and I was unable to dial out. Asked one of the EMTs about this, she just shrugged "I dunno". Punched up the phone mode menu and saw that I could turn it off. I imagine most smart phones handle it the same way.
Forgot to add the most important note. On the Blackberry the phone mode menu does not show the emergency mode options in normal use. It only appears after the 911 call is connected. Which is why I was unaware of it. Good idea to search phone mfr’s web/help site to uncover instructions.
bkmk
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