I don’t totally disagree with you. The Jewish guy was in a bit of danger. Muslims can be violent. And Muslim mobs even more so.
So, yes. I think the cop had a duty to talk to the Jewish guy, and warn him. But threaten to arrest him? Nope, that’s crossing the line. That’s the cop blaming the possible victim for any possible trouble.
As a rough analogy, consider a guy wearing an expensive watch. And he’s taking a stroll in a bad part of town. A beat cop sees him. Should the cop warn him? Yes. Should the cop threaten to arrest him if he doesn’t turn around? I’d say no.
Better that the cop keep extra alert for criminals while that (maybe stupid) watch guy is on his walk.
I appreciate the police, and I appreciate what they’re going through now. They aren’t paid nearly enough for the increasing sh!t they have to put up with - including the frequent demonization to which they’re subjected.
I think the average cop knows what is right to do, but the politics/politicians (and lawyers!) who actually ‘run’ them now are causing them to have to constantly second-guess their own good judgment. They never know where they stand anymore, or what might happen to them depending on the political winds.
I wasn’t there when this incident took place, so I can’t fall down on one side or another. I’m just amazed that anybody would want to be a cop these days; and I wonder what will happen to us when nobody decent DOES want to go into policing anymore.