To protect and serve

Fifty-two years ago, Los Angeles City Council adopted the motto for its police department, "to protect and serve." It has become a great public relations motto for police departments everywhere.

Mahoning Township police might soon make serving the public less important. Police Chief Audie Mertz is working on writing rules for his officers which will prohibit them from assisting broken-down motorists.

Mahoning Township Supervisor Chairman John Wieczorek agrees.

He said, "Trying to push a car out of a snow bank isn't one of the things police should be doing."

Wieczorek made the statement only three days after Summit Hill Police officer Jason Harrison helped a woman stuck along the highway change a flat tire. It's not surprising of Harrison. The Panther Valley High School graduate who was senior class president and was a star on the school's football team has a reputation of always being one to help others.

At a time when police in general are under scrutiny, especially in major cities, one would think the conduct Harrison displayed would be a positive impact for police.

Admittedly, police providing roadside assistance need to use caution, the same as if they're answering a call for such things as domestic violence or an armed robbery.

Last summer in Knoxville, Tennessee, a police officer stopped to help two men change a flat tire. It turns out the vehicle had a stolen license plate. One of the individuals changing the tire was recently released on parole. That man attacked the police officer and continued assaulting the officer even after being tasered. The officer managed to shoot the assailant several times while the man was wrestling for his gun.

Recently in West Penn Township, officer Melissa Ruch stopped along busy Route 309 in broad daylight to assist a motorist. Reports state the individual she was assisting physically assaulted her, giving her a concussion and other injuries.

But that's the exception. Most of the times, for the motorist needing assistance, a police officer providing help is like a heaven-sent angel. It's understood that police officers shouldn't take the place of AAA or roadside assistance firms. But if an officer feels he can help someone whose car is broken down, he should be allowed to "serve."

A policy prohibiting police from doing so is wrong. It should be up to the officer to determine if he is capable of providing assistance. It should be common sense which dictates whether an officer helps someone.

Having a policy will mean reprimands - or worse - to police officers for doing the right thing. Police officers are not stupid. They can think for themselves. They don't need a written policy "to protect and serve."

There are many other police officers like Harrison who don't mind serving the public. They should not be discouraged from helping others. It's actually why most have entered that profession.