GA: Rely on yourself, not the cops, for protection



Who exactly, I'd like to know, is the Atlanta Police Department protecting?

On March 2, a friend and I were harassed and assaulted by a man in Little Five Points who was either out of his mind, on drugs or both. He tailed us through the neighborhood, threatening to kill us, and eventually hit my friend on the shoulder with a skateboard, hard enough to leave a lump the size of a softball.

After we'd gotten to safety and calmed down, I called 911 to report the incident. I was put on hold. When I finally got through to a real human being, several minutes, I might add, after the assailant had run off, she asked for a description and hung up after I gave it. No officers were sent to the scene.

The next day, I had an appointment at traffic court, which is located a few blocks from a high-crime area of the city. Still shaken from the night before and not about to take any chances, I brought my Taser with me.

But when I attempted to enter the courthouse, I was told my weapon would be confiscated. When I asked if they could hold it for me at the entrance, a courtesy they extended to my bike lock, which was also in my backpack, they told me I was breaking the law.

At this point, I broke down crying and explained the situation from the night before. The officers were unyielding, berating me and telling me my only option was to hide the weapon outside and retrieve it after my appointment. This seemed extremely unsafe — why hide a weapon in a bad neighborhood where it could easily be stolen and possibly used against an innocent person? — but they told me it was my only option and said they would arrest me if I continued my behavior. Without a choice, I handed over my Taser and went to my appointment.

I should clarify that isn't my intent to vilify all police officers. In fact, I spoke with a very helpful officer outside of the Graveyard Tavern on March 5. He expressed sympathy for my experience and gave me excellent advice about self-protection. He recommended carrying either a handgun, Mace Pepper Foam or a Blackjack, a billy club that straps to your hand and can incapacitate an attacker with a single strategic strike.

But with this one exception, my confidence in the APD was severely shaken. Mine is not an isolated incident. Atlanta's 911 center came under fire in summer 2009 after repeated complaints about delays in addressing emergencies. These complaints culminated in the firing of director Miles Butler, but the problem itself hasn't been fixed. If there aren't enough 911 dispatchers, more need to be hired. Period. There is no excuse for being put on hold in case of an emergency.

Additionally, members of the police force need to be reminded about who they're supposed to protect and serve. Where were the tough cops threatening arrest on the night my friend and I were attacked? Who exactly are you protecting when you take away a single woman's Taser?

Which brings me to the most important lesson I took away from this experience: You have to be able to look out for yourself. Whether it's a weapon or a self-defense class, you need to have some way that you can defend yourself in a bad situation.

Be aware of your surroundings. If someone is giving you a creepy vibe, don't be afraid to go somewhere you know is safe. It's better to risk offending someone than to risk being attacked.

Finally, if you see someone who looks like they're in trouble, do something. In a city where the majority of police seem apathetic, it becomes the citizens' job to look out for one another.

So the next time you see someone in a bad situation, step up and say something. You never know who you might save.

Source





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