I am thinking of a true SHTF scenario which threatens the very existence of civil society, not another round of Rodney King riots (or Katrina looting or Obama election riots or whatever).
In a true SHTF scenario, wouldn’t LEO’s realize that their family is in peril without them there, causing many to abandon their post and return home to protect the family? I know they are not supposed to, but the nature of SHTF is that all bets are off.
I don’t think this thread will go well, but here goes. If the LE agency takes steps or has a contingency plan in place to protect the families of the officers, then they’ll probably get 90%+ coverage. If they expect the oath of office to trump the security of their loved ones, that rate will plummet. When I get my family secured and safe, then I’ll return to work. Until then, my family takes priority over those who don’t provide for their own. Like everyone else, we work for a paycheck so that we can provide for ours.
Family always comes first, period.
As glocktogo stated, once I know my family is safe and provided for, I would have no issue going back to work, but no one will be faulted for going home to make sure their family is safe.
I also don’t think this thread will go well but it’s very easy to imagine charges against folks deserting their posts. See the New Orleans PD’s actions during Katrina.
I am not read up on it, but I do not believe they ever came back to work until it was all cleared up.
Not very clear cut along one approach nor the other and very, very ugly.
This whole sub-forum started going to shit a while back. We should rename it to “Real-life Rawles Novel Preparedness Forum and other SHTF Fantasies”.
Yup. Can’t stand Rawles.
There is no “clear” directive on it in any department I know of. I know we do not have any guidelines. If I do not show up, call or otherwise I get carried AWOL. I can call and say “I am sick” for as long as I want…lol
I imagine it’s a bit more clearcut for fed LEOs. Hopefully some will weigh in.
The argument can be made that LE is never “off-duty” but what kind of job will a person do if they are unsure of their families well being?
What does the military do (not being flippant)? Does the oath say “except in case of problems at home?”
If you are thousands of miles away from your home/family and depending on what type of SHTF situation occurs…there may be no reason to try to get home, or possibility.
Too many variables to really narrow down a good answer.
Also, military discipline is probably much more rigid. Particularly if tasked with a mission at hand. (not being disrespectful, VDman and I are friends offline, folks).
I agree, for the most part, but its difficult to narrow down exactly what will happen because we do not know what kind of circumstances SHTF will bring.
That’s the problem - this is basically mental masturbation; just pure speculation. Will LEOs act like the Marines Khe Sanh or Fallujah? Or will they pull a New Orleans? We do not know and have no way of knowing. Gun forums are the home on the internet of “what if?!” questions.
Note: not ALL NOPD LEOs abandoned their posts.
I’m not a LEO, but my fed agency has contingency plans in place to cover those eventualities on a local or regional scale. They have pre-arranged deployment teams that come in to take over duties in the effected area, so that the local employees can focus on taking care of their families and personal situations.
I’m a local reserve LEO. We have mutual aid agreements that allow for other agencies to assist. That wouldn’t cover an entire effected area most likely, but that’s what the National Guard are for on a state level.
I am single so the choice is easy. Stay and do my job that is what we signed up for.
Pat
What happens if a LEO doesn’t show up for work? Get suspended/fired?
Mil gets thrown in jail or worse.
I’ve recently become very aware of the emphasis the military places on family safety. I had a personal loss back home while deployed. As anyone can tell you, it can take a week or more to get back stateside. I was home, almost exactly on the other side of the planet, in 2 days starting from when I stepped off my FOB and ending when I landed in Hawaii.
The military takes care of your family; you aren’t effective if you’re constantly worrrying about affairs back home. So if S did HTF while deployed, the home unit would do its best to take care of your family while you’re gone. If SHTF while stateside, some people would definitely go AWOL, but I’d imagine most people would stay at their post since their family is with them.
:lol:
For the first time reading a thread on the interwebs I can honestly say I “laughed out loud.” I actually blew a little snot out of my nose when I read this.
“Survival” related boards inevitably turn into speculative paranoia fests…