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Following debate on the Officer Rathband thread, I did some looking.

The way I see It Is that actual fatalities In the police force are not relevant as 'Putting their life on the line' surely means ' Being exposed to situations that could cause loss of life'.

Digging around, I found this article about cuts In the UK Police force. However, It wasn't the proposed cuts that Interested me but this paragraph taken from the article.

' Under plans being drawn up by the Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo), between 14,000 and 18,000 officers whose injuries mean they are no longer able to work on the front line would be offered severance packages.

Injured officers first in line as police make cuts - Crime - UK - The Independent

14,000 to 18,000 officers Injured.... That's a heck of a lot of Injured police officers.

Reading this, It bolsters my belief that they are at risk In the job.

What do you think ?

Police go out into their jobs and sometimes find themselves in risky situations. Fisherman head out on their trawlers and sometimes find themselves in risky situations. Nurses head into their wards and sometimes find themselves in risky situations. Tree surgeons hang around with chainsaws and sometimes find themselves in risky situations. Miners head down the pit and sometimes find themselves in risky situations. The list just goes on and on.

Risk:

a situation involving exposure to danger.

all outdoor activities carry an element of risk

Definition for risk - Oxford Dictionaries Online (World English)



Let's get a balance, there are just as many dangerous professions out there that cause injury and fatalities as being a police officer.

I do not believe that police officers place their lives on a line every single day of their jobs. I think there are many professions where people are placed in risky and dangerous situations. Any good professional though knows what these risks and dangers are and therefore they choose whether to firstly enter their chosen profession and then whether to remain in such a position or not.

Most of those jobs listed don't depend on the good will and sanity of the general population. You put drugs and alcohol into the mix and I feel that cops definitely have high risk jobs. People are unpredictable.

SnoozeAgain;1386420 wrote: Most of those jobs listed don't depend on the good will and sanity of the general population. You put drugs and alcohol into the mix and I feel that cops definitely have high risk jobs. People are unpredictable.


That's not an exhaustive list though, nurses, doctors, any hospital staff, any admin that works within a police station or hospital, any employee that works with the general public, coastguards, lifeboat men, traffic wardens, the list can go on and on and these people too are dependant on the 'good will and sanity of the general population'.

Betty Boop;1386422 wrote: That's not an exhaustive list though, nurses, doctors, any hospital staff, any admin that works within a police station or hospital, any employee that works with the general public, coastguards, lifeboat men, traffic wardens, the list can go on and on and these people too are dependant on the 'good will and sanity of the general population'.


But how can you say that when there are 14,000 to 18,000 Injured Officers unable to return to work?

Show me some evidence or stats that show up to 18,000 Injured nurses unable to return to work.

oscar;1386424 wrote: But how can you say that when there are 14,000 to 18,000 Injured Officers unable to return to work?

Show me some evidence or stats that show up to 18,000 Injured nurses unable to return to work.


What's your name, Spot??

ermmm your stats, where did they come from and is it 14,000 or 18,000 that's a huge difference, explain how it can be both figures please, it's either one or the other or somewhere in between surely.

Hospital work, sure. But cops get called into domestic disputes and drunken brawls all the time, which is basically inviting some kind of violence upon themselves. Even fire fighters have more predictable jobs.

Betty Boop;1386425 wrote: What's your name, Spot??

ermmm your stats, where did they come from and is it 14,000 or 18,000 that's a huge difference, explain how it can be both figures please, it's either one or the other or somewhere in between surely.


The figure comes from the article. This explains further.

Express.co.uk - Home of the Daily and Sunday Express | UK News :: One police officer injured every hour

[in singular] the possibility that something unpleasant or unwelcome will happen




There are many dangerous occupations most of which you know the dangers involved and can take steps to avoid the risk - actually trawlerman is one of the most dangerous because the sea is unpredictable, mining is but a lot can be done to make mines safer someone and cave ins are often due to lax safety protocols or a mine owner cutting corners somewhere. If someone with a chainsaw that his leg off he has usually been careless. Casualty staff in hospitals are at risk for the same reasons policemen are but it's not in the same league.

How many of us seeing a drunken brawl would go in and try and stop it yet we expect our policemen to do it every day of the week and especially at weekends. How many of you go to work knowing some yobbo may pull a knife on you and if you're not quick enough stab you with it. I know two ex policemen, one had his kneecaps smashed by a drunk driver and retired in his thirties, I know another who was smashed in the back of the neck with a bottle by the drunken mate of the man he was bending over giving first aid to, he's paralysed. For most jobs the level of risk is predictable and can be controlled but with police it's not just occasionally it's every time they walk in to a situation they are at risk that something unpleasant or unwelcome will happen. It's beyond their control.

Not all policemen are at such risk but the beat bobbies are. Yes they made that choice but tough **** you should have chosen a different occupation is a bit much. Look at PC rathband, he was just doing his job protecting the public from a nutter with a gun he was blinded and now dead. I find that sad and anyone who doesn't quite frankly is a pillock.

gmc;1386431 wrote: There are many dangerous occupations most of which you know the dangers involved and can take steps to avoid the risk - actually trawlerman is one of the most dangerous because the sea is unpredictable, mining is but a lot can be done to make mines safer someone and cave ins are often due to lax safety protocols or a mine owner cutting corners somewhere. If someone with a chainsaw that his leg off he has usually been careless. Casualty staff in hospitals are at risk for the same reasons policemen are but it's not in the same league.

How many of us seeing a drunken brawl would go in and try and stop it yet we expect our policemen to do it every day of the week and especially at weekends. How many of you go to work knowing some yobbo may pull a knife on you and if you're not quick enough stab you with it. I know two ex policemen, one had his kneecaps smashed by a drunk driver and retired in his thirties, I know another who was smashed in the back of the neck with a bottle by the drunken mate of the man he was bending over giving first aid to, he's paralysed. For most jobs the level of risk is predictable and can be controlled but with police it's not just occasionally it's every time they walk in to a situation they are at risk that something unpleasant or unwelcome will happen. It's beyond their control.

Not all policemen are at such risk but the beat bobbies are. Yes they made that choice but tough **** you should have chosen a different occupation is a bit much. Look at PC rathband, he was just doing his job protecting the public from a nutter with a gun he was blinded and now dead. I find that sad and anyone who doesn't quite frankly is a pillock.


Well said Auld Yin

We're forgetting traffic cops. In my opinion, they risk life and limb. They drive In high speed persuits In order that some drunken scroat In a stolen car at 90 mph doesn't mow your children down.

Been in and out of this thread several times trying to put an appropriate response together, I think gmc has nailed it......again.



People have mixed feelings about the Police, the times they come into contact with them is never the best of times, either they are pulled for traffic offenses, or some sort of crime against themselves.

I have been watching this blog for some time, you have to take into account the understandable bias, but it gives a taste of the problems Police face every day.

This article is relevant to this topic.

Bruv;1386439 wrote: Been in and out of this thread several times trying to put an appropriate response together, I think gmc has nailed it......again.



People have mixed feelings about the Police, the times they come into contact with them is never the best of times, either they are pulled for traffic offenses, or some sort of crime against themselves.

I have been watching this blog for some time, you have to take into account the understandable bias, but it gives a taste of the problems Police face every day.

This article is relevant to this topic.


That's a good Insight that blog.

Another risk these days Is being spat at. Every time a police officer Is spat at and It hits them, they have to go through a barrage of test for Hepatitis and HIV.

Bruv;1386439 wrote: Been in and out of this thread several times trying to put an appropriate response together, I think gmc has nailed it......again.



People have mixed feelings about the Police, the times they come into contact with them is never the best of times, either they are pulled for traffic offenses, or some sort of crime against themselves.

I have been watching this blog for some time, you have to take into account the understandable bias, but it gives a taste of the problems Police face every day.

This article is relevant to this topic.


I have no opinion one way or another on the police, never been pulled, have been told to move off double yellow lines whilst waiting for my son from school. Never showed any aggression or dislike to the police man, just had a chat with him and moved on, he was just doing his job.

Will take a look at the blog later, maybe we could find the equivalent of a nurse or doctor working in casualty blog.

I've never shown any dis-respect to PC Rathbone either, there is no doubt his case was incredibly sad, it has to be remembered that it was also an extreme case and not something that happens on a daily basis.

If we are going to assert that police officers 'put their lives on the line' all the time then I believe there are other professions that deserve to have that saying too. At the end of the day, it is just a saying.

I realise that some people target police officers with violence, why is that? Why have the police ended up with such a bad reputation?

Bruv;1386439 wrote: ...I think gmc has nailed it......again.


Yes, he made some points that never occurred to me. :rolleyes:

Betty Boop;1386444 wrote: I have no opinion one way or another on the police, never been pulled, have been told to move off double yellow lines whilst waiting for my son from school. Never showed any aggression or dislike to the police man, just had a chat with him and moved on, he was just doing his job.

Will take a look at the blog later, maybe we could find the equivalent of a nurse or doctor working in casualty blog.

I've never shown any dis-respect to PC Rathbone either, there is no doubt his case was incredibly sad, it has to be remembered that it was also an extreme case and not something that happens on a daily basis.

If we are going to assert that police officers 'put their lives on the line' all the time then I believe there are other professions that deserve to have that saying too. At the end of the day, it is just a saying.

I realise that some people target police officers with violence, why is that? Why have the police ended up with such a bad reputation?


You seem to feel that because there are other dangerous jobs, it somehow weakens the argument that police put their lives on the line everyday. They aren't mutually exclusive.

Betty Boop;1386444 wrote:

I realise that some people target police officers with violence, why is that? Why have the police ended up with such a bad reputation?


Make no mistake, I believe those Officers caught lying under oath or attempting to pervert the course of Justice which this country seems to have rather a lot of, are scum and breed scum. The lat time I looked at the figures, there were just over 1,000 serving police officers who had criminal convictions for ATPCJ, assault and lying under oath.

However, when the figure Is compared to the amount of serving officers who are decent coppers, the scum thankfully are the minority.

I have found that anyone who hates the police don't hate the police force It'self but they have a problem when their behaviour Is challenged.

SnoozeAgain;1386447 wrote: You seem to feel that because there are other dangerous jobs, it somehow weakens the argument that police put their lives on the line everyday. They aren't mutually exclusive.


This is just a war of words. For a policeman to put his life on the line everyday he would have to be the only officer on duty, single-handedly responding to all violent issues. Not every single police officer is subjected to such things on a daily basis.

The statement would be better if it were said that the officer who attended the incident lay his life on the line when he stepped in to take the bullet the offender fired. For that incident the officer would have indeed put his life on the line at that moment. Police officers going about their day to day duties do not put their lives on the line every ten minutes.

I have every sympathy with anyone that faces the public these days.

Off licences, Super market Checkouts, Nurses and Doctors especially in A and E, Benefit office staff, Tax officers, they all have to handle difficult situations that can erupt from nowhere.

The people most in danger are those in 'hands on' situations such as Police and Medical staff, both are jobs I would never consider.

Betty Boop;1386450 wrote: This is just a war of words. For a policeman to put his life on the line everyday he would have to be the only officer on duty, single-handedly responding to all violent issues. Not every single police officer is subjected to such things on a daily basis.

The statement would be better if it were said that the officer who attended the incident lay his life on the line when he stepped in to take the bullet the offender fired. For that incident the officer would have indeed put his life on the line at that moment. Police officers going about their day to day duties do not put their lives on the line every ten minutes. Here you go Betty... This Is my own photograph taken on my mobile phone late one night. I stepped outside the takeaway to have a cigg. Standing there, I heard the wail of the sirens... I saw the scroat driving ( probably pissed or high as a kite ) dangerously at 90 mph as he flew past me. I could see the police car behind In persuit.

Suddenly, there was a god almighty bang, and a massive cloud of smoke. When the smoke cleared, this Is what I saw, with two coppers Inside.

This Is not something of the net, this Is my own photograph taken by myself.

Attached files

Betty Boop;1386450 wrote:

Police officers going about their day to day duties do not put their lives on the line every ten minutes.


The phrase is overly dramatic but the simple truth is any Police officer anywhere in the country is prone to be in a situation that could endanger their life.

Whether that is answering a 'domestic' or a disturbance in a public house. Many time they go in alone, never knowing what to expect. It might be an argument between teenaged daughter and mother, or a drunken husband armed with a cutlass.

But I know where you are coming from, Nurses in A and E in what should be a safe secure and non threatening environment are subject to similar dangers these days.......I do find that far worse,

Bruv;1386455 wrote: The phrase is overly dramatic but the simple truth is any Police officer anywhere in the country is prone to be in a situation that could endanger their life.

Whether that is answering a 'domestic' or a disturbance in a public house. Many time they go in alone, never knowing what to expect. It might be an argument between teenaged daughter and mother, or a drunken husband armed with a cutlass.

But I know where you are coming from, Nurses in A and E in what should be a safe secure and non threatening environment are subject to similar dangers these days.......I do find that far worse,


Thank god for that lol Paramedics also walk into situations never knowing what to expect, as a Homestart volunteer I could walk into a situation that's potentially dangerous. I have a brother who works in a hospital just as a common old ward assistant, and a cousin that is a PCSO out on the beat. Guess which one has suffered more abuse and attacks in the last two years!

Betty Boop;1386460 wrote: Thank god for that lol Paramedics also walk into situations never knowing what to expect, as a Homestart volunteer I could walk into a situation that's potentially dangerous. I have a brother who works in a hospital just as a common old ward assistant, and a cousin that is a PCSO out on the beat. Guess which one has suffered more abuse and attacks in the last two years!
It depends where the PCSO has his beat. With the greatest respect BB, If It's rural Cornwall, It's not on the same par as Downtown Bristol City Centre when the clubs are kicking out at 2 am.

oscar;1386461 wrote: It depends where the PCSO has his beat. With the greatest respect BB, If It's rural Cornwall, It's not on the same par as Downtown Bristol City Centre when the clubs are kicking out at 2 am.


2am?? That's early, 4 am is the norm around here in rural Cornwall where of course we have no crime at all. :rolleyes:

It's relevant as both employee's work in Cornwall, the hospital my brother works in is a small community hospital in the same area. Why is it only dependent on where the PCSO's beat is?

Betty Boop;1386463 wrote: 2am?? That's early, 4 am is the norm around here in rural Cornwall where of course we have no crime at all. :rolleyes:

It's relevant as both employee's work in Cornwall, the hospital my brother works in is a small community hospital in the same area. Why is it only dependent on where the PCSO's beat is?


Because stats prove Inner cities have a higher crime rate than rural area's. Violent crime that Is... not the theft of red diesel from Farmer Gile's tractor that Is.

Besides, what you are over looking when stating nurses come under attack also Is that most A & E departments throughout the country now have CCTV camera's and security guards. Police Officers do not have the luxury of having beefy security guards with them 24/7 as body guards. They have no Idea what they are walking Into.

oscar;1386465 wrote:

Police Officers do not have the luxury of having beefy security guards with them 24/7 as body guards. They have no Idea what they are walking Into.


Unwittingly you have hit the nail on the head.

Since when have Nurses had to have Body Guards ? And why ?

Police enter the job with full knowledge of the possible dangers, those dangers may have worsened over the years.

Most Health care workers have no idea initially that their profession might lead to verbal and physical assault while attempting to heal a fellow human being.

The 2 problems are of course linked, mainly by alcohol and a change in attitudes to authority

Bruv;1386467 wrote: Unwittingly you have hit the nail on the head.

Since when have Nurses had to have Body Guards ? And why ?

Police enter the job with full knowledge of the possible dangers, those dangers may have worsened over the years.

Most Health care workers have no idea initially that their profession might lead to verbal and physical assault while attempting to heal a fellow human being.

The 2 problems are of course linked, mainly by alcohol and a change in attitudes to authority I go to A & E In Bristol with Mr O when needed and there are 4 security guards on Friday and Saturday nights, 2 weekdays. I think just their presence helps a lot.

I am just wondering If as a society, we have become more aggressive over the years. People just don't like being challenged about their behaviour or being told what to do by someone In authority.

oscar;1386465 wrote: Because stats prove Inner cities have a higher crime rate than rural area's. Violent crime that Is... not the theft of red diesel from Farmer Gile's tractor that Is.

Besides, what you are over looking when stating nurses come under attack also Is that most A & E departments throughout the country now have CCTV camera's and security guards. Police Officers do not have the luxury of having beefy security guards with them 24/7 as body guards. They have no Idea what they are walking Into.


Your pathetic attempts at put downs are amazing. Never mind, it amuses you no doubt.

I gave an example of a ward assistant on the ward, he's not a nurse and he's not in A and E. He works within a community hospital where he meets people of the community. The same people that the PCSO encounters when he's out on the community. I've compared two employee's working very different jobs within the same community. One in a force where there's known aggression towards the police and one where all he wants to do is serve people tea and coffee and give them lunch. The facts are quite shocking to normal people. I suspect if you took a PCSO from your hot bed of crime, Bristol, and a ward assistant from a big Bristol hospital the stories would the same.

Betty Boop;1386470 wrote: Your pathetic attempts at put downs are amazing. Never mind, it amuses you no doubt.

I gave an example of a ward assistant on the ward, he's not a nurse and he's not in A and E. He works within a community hospital where he meets people of the community. The same people that the PCSO encounters when he's out on the community. I've compared two employee's working very different jobs within the same community. One in a force where there's known aggression towards the police and one where all he wants to do is serve people tea and coffee and give them lunch. The facts are quite shocking to normal people. I suspect if you took a PCSO from your hot bed of crime, Bristol, and a ward assistant from a big Bristol hospital the stories would the same.


I have two sisters who are both staff nurses, one In A & E. They have never been assaulted nor seen a nurse assaulted In years although, Yes, there Is security and drunks get verbal. However, they have seen scores of Police officers brought In Injured over the years. That's Brighton and Essex.

oscar;1386465 wrote: Because stats prove Inner cities have a higher crime rate than rural area's. Violent crime that Is... not the theft of red diesel from Farmer Gile's tractor that Is.

Besides, what you are over looking when stating nurses come under attack also Is that most A & E departments throughout the country now have CCTV camera's and security guards. Police Officers do not have the luxury of having beefy security guards with them 24/7 as body guards. They have no Idea what they are walking Into.


Police officers represent security and are there to guard the nation. Nurses are there to help the sick and wounded and make their patients feel secure.

Betty Boop;1386475 wrote: Police officers represent security and are there to guard the nation. Nurses are there to help the sick and wounded and make their patients feel secure.


Let's go by the stats then. In the second link I posted, from Home Office figures, a Police Officer Is Injured every hour. That Is not Including Officers who suffer minor Injury so do not report It.

Are you seriously trying to suggest that nationwide, a nurse Is Injured every hour ?

oscar;1386477 wrote: Let's go by the stats then. In the second link I posted, from Home Office figures, a Police Officer Is Injured every hour. That Is not Including Officers who suffer minor Injury so do not report It.

Are you seriously trying to suggest that nationwide, a nurse Is Injured every hour ?


So you're presenting a different stat now, what happened to the 14,000 to 18,000 officers you stated in the opening post. The figures I just mentioned again come from Injured officers first in line as police make cuts - Crime - UK - The Independent where it then proceeds to state that:

Some will have physical issues with injuries sustained on duty, some may be suffering psychological issues and are no longer able to handle conflict on the street. Some are not available for shift work and so their flexibility is reduced and that can breed resentment among other staff.

Therefore that is not a true representation of officers injured whilst on duty is it.

Do you realise that you make threads go round in endless circles of nothing. Not just this one but several, constantly.

You shout for statistics when it suits you, ten minutes later you're digging at Spot or Ahso for using statistics.

I don't need to provide stats for the nurses, as you informed us all, A & E's around the country have CCTV and security guards in place for staff security, I guess they were put there due to the amount of grateful patients queuing up with gifts for the people that have saved their lives hey.

I bet that through the course of their duty every day a nurse (I'd even stretch that to any employee within a hospital) is verbally or physically abused, like the police officer though, they don't report every incident.

Maybe I'm dense, but I don't see how nurses having dangerous jobs takes away from the fact that police face danger every day in their job. It's apples/oranges.

SnoozeAgain;1386492 wrote: Maybe I'm dense, but I don't see how nurses having dangerous jobs takes away from the fact that police face danger every day in their job. It's apples/oranges.


All front-line services, put their lives in danger at some point or another during their working lives. I'm not claiming police do not face danger at certain times, I'm just pointing out that they are not the only profession which faces danger on a daily basis.

There are, statistically, more dangerous jobs that being a police officer, but there are few jobs where in the coarse of your day-to-day work activity you are as likely to meet people who are willfully intent on doing you bodily harm.

Betty Boop;1386493 wrote: All front-line services, put their lives in danger at some point or another during their working lives. I'm not claiming police do not face danger at certain times, I'm just pointing out that they are not the only profession which faces danger on a daily basis.


Well, that wasn't really the question, though.

The point I tried to put across before was a simple one. Of course there are many other people whose profession of choice places their lives in danger.

However, when a psycho armed with a machete is running around your neighbourhood at 2am on a Sunday morning randomly slashing and cutting people, you don't telephone a trawler man, a lumberjack or a formula one racing driver. No. You dial 911 or 999 or whatever your local emergency number is.

You don’t first think that maybe by calling them you are gonna place the lives of the police officers in danger. You just expect them to respond and you then wait for a police car to arrive to save you and yours and arrest the machete wielding person.

Betty Boop;1386480 wrote: So you're presenting a different stat now, what happened to the 14,000 to 18,000 officers you stated in the opening post.

I was quoting from the second link I posted. Did You miss It ? Here It is again If you did.

Express.co.uk - Home of the Daily and Sunday Express | UK News :: One police officer injured every hour



Are you seriously suggesting a nurse Is injured every hour ?

oscar;1386511 wrote: I was quoting from the second link I posted. Did You miss It ? Here It is again If you did.

Express.co.uk - Home of the Daily and Sunday Express | UK News :: One police officer injured every hour



Are you seriously suggesting a nurse Is injured every hour ?


Betty Boop;1386480 wrote: So you're presenting a different stat now, what happened to the 14,000 to 18,000 officers you stated in the opening post. The figures I just mentioned again come from Injured officers first in line as police make cuts - Crime - UK - The Independent where it then proceeds to state that:

Some will have physical issues with injuries sustained on duty, some may be suffering psychological issues and are no longer able to handle conflict on the street. Some are not available for shift work and so their flexibility is reduced and that can breed resentment among other staff.

Therefore that is not a true representation of officers injured whilst on duty is it.

Do you realise that you make threads go round in endless circles of nothing. Not just this one but several, constantly.

You shout for statistics when it suits you, ten minutes later you're digging at Spot or Ahso for using statistics.

I don't need to provide stats for the nurses, as you informed us all, A & E's around the country have CCTV and security guards in place for staff security, I guess they were put there due to the amount of grateful patients queuing up with gifts for the people that have saved their lives hey.

I bet that through the course of their duty every day a nurse (I'd even stretch that to any employee within a hospital) is verbally or physically abused, like the police officer though, they don't report every incident.


You missed a bit, here it is again.

I'll leave you to go round in circles.

Oh, and I'll leave you to claim that I've left the thread due to not having evidence to present you with. I'll find evidence when you can present evidence that is actually relevant and interpreted correctly.

Betty Boop;1386513 wrote: You missed a bit, here it is again.

I'll leave you to go round in circles.

Oh, and I'll leave you to claim that I've left the thread due to not having evidence to present you with. I'll find evidence when you can present evidence that is actually relevant and interpreted correctly.
The one an hour was calculated by figures from the Home Office.

All through this thread you have undermined the question I asked In my title and OP. I did not ask the question, 'What are the most dangerous jobs' which Is the route you have taken throughout. I asked If the public considered that police put their lives on the line. It was you who led the thread off on a tangent about nurses.

As It happens, I did bother to search for the Home Office stats and found them on the net. As It was reams of figures detailed by each town and city, the chances of anyone here trawling through that lot are slim, however, they do confirm the articles In the newspapers.

now we've got the police tackling machete wielding madmen after a quick stop at Tim Hortons. What about the LA police known for their corruption, along with the Vancouver police and the Toronto police and the New York police who recently got trained to be Islamophobic? What about the cop who tasered someone to death without cause? What about the cop who shot the black kid in the back while he was running away? What about the Rodney Kings? What about excessive force and people getting their skulls fractured by tear gas cannisters just because they were trying to speak their opinions?

Shall I keep going?

Shall we look for comparisons for how many nurses and doctors have killed their patients?

Last time I looked "cab driver" was the most dangerous occupation.

Let me also pre-empt the "angels of death" killer nurses by pointing out it's a syndrome with all "heroic" professions.

Hero syndrome - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Shall we look for comparisons for how many nurses and doctors have killed their patients?



"An average of 195,000 people in the USA died due to potentially preventable, in-hospital medical errors in each of the years 2000, 2001 and 2002, according to a new study of 37 million patient records that was released today by HealthGrades, the healthcare quality company."

Source: Medical News Today

Shall we look for comparisons for how many nurses and doctors have killed their patients?



"An average of 195,000 people in the USA died due to potentially preventable, in-hospital medical errors in each of the years 2000, 2001 and 2002, according to a new study of 37 million patient records that was released today by HealthGrades, the healthcare quality company."

Source: Medical News Today.

And I doubt that many of the patients were trying to rob and harm anyone.

You've double excited yourself.

This is a great start to examining how supposedly heroic people are just as flawed and sometimes corrupt as the average sewage worker.

You asked a question ... I gave an answer.

This Thread is : Do Police officers ' Put their life on the line' ?

Not: ... examining how supposedly heroic people are just as flawed and sometimes corrupt as the average sewage worker

oh, I see. You're only interested in surface questions.

God forbid you ever find yourself in front of a lawyer of any worth.

By the way... I know a police officer who put their own and many other people's lives on the line by drinking and driving on a regular basis.

I also know someone who killed a highschool student drink driving and got off with no penalty because he knew all the cops.

Of course there are corrupt police officials just as there are corrupt politicians, public servants, judges etc etc. There are police officers who abuse alchohol and other substances. Only a fool would think or argue otherwise. They are after all human beings like the rest of us.

The point I have been trying to make is simple and straightforward. Despite all their failings they are the first line of defense between us the public and the criminal. In an emergency we call for them and expect them to do their duty. In most cases I believe they respond promptly and positively.

They are actually the first line of defence between a dictator and democracy.