Ask The Advocate: Police officer call for help

Advocate staff photo by TRAVIS SPRADLING -- Spectators walk down North Street, collecting a few beads as they go, after this year's Spanish Town Mardi Gras Parade.

What is the police procedure or protocol for responding to a police incident such as the one that followed the Spanish Town Mardi Gras parade?

Response from Baton Rouge police Lt. Don Kelly:

Our officers were responding to a desperate radio call for help from a fellow officer. We did not know at the time if she had been punched, stabbed, shot, ambushed or run over, if she was still under attack, or whether other innocent people in the area might also be in imminent danger from an assailant. In such a situation it is absolutely critical to respond quickly. Seconds matter, and literally could mean the difference between life and death. Further, the first few officers who did arrive on-scene called for even more immediate assistance due to finding an officer down, a large, unruly crowd and ongoing fights. That created even more urgency to get every additional resource we had into the area and stabilize the situation before it got completely out of control.

There's no denying emergency driving is potentially very dangerous, both to our officers and to other motorists and pedestrians. But our officers receive extensive specialized training and obtain quite a bit of practical experience in emergency driving techniques. They are taught that they must arrive safely at a scene to be of any help. The fact that so many did so, even in the midst of thousands of parade-goers, many of whom were intoxicated, and many of whom were obliviously milling around in the middle of major roadways after the parade had already concluded, without causing a single wreck or injury to anyone, is testament to their training and skills, and proves that they exercised great care and concern for the safety of everyone in the area.

Had we not responded so quickly, and allowed the situation to escalate and result in additional injuries or worse, then I'm sure we would have some people demanding to know why we didn't get there faster.

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Comments

1) Comment by On_The_Fence - 04/03/2013

Do NOT play into this with an explanation. You owe no explanation. No one goes home til we all go home. Period.

2) Comment by rockynoggin - 04/03/2013

@markedwardm... my comment assumes police enforce laws and the laws are meant to protect life and property. In a perfect world, anyway. Clearly, not always the case with our laws or actions of the police (as in your case).

3) Comment by LSUalum08 - 04/03/2013

Seems like The Advocate has other people's backs, too. Right?

4) Comment by markedwardmarchiafava - 04/03/2013

If the PD "mission" is to protect life and property, you'd think there'd be some basis in law for such, but there is no such requirement.

5) Comment by rockynoggin - 04/03/2013

Let me correct you on the "combat" point there @chainsaw - the PD is not the Army. The army mission is to destroy the enemy in combat. The PD mission is to protect life and property of the public. I don't buy the "adrenaline" being responsible for a professional behaving poorly. I chalk that up to poor training and leadership and a PD that is basically broken.

6) Comment by speakthetruth - 04/03/2013

The initial response was handled well and the situation was controlled quickly. The problems started 5 minutes after the incident was curtailed, Officers (wanting to see "it") continued to drive at high rates of speed through the crowds. I and after arriving just stood around laughing and having a good ole time. But the first time someone would ask a question of them they had a "don't bother me, can't you see I'm busy" attitude. Very unprofessional. No leadership at the scene. But thats what leduff left us and white was trying to fix. I guess we need to start having a union official there to take charge. Oh wait, there was one there but he was too busy talking to kip on the phone to be a leader.

7) Comment by markedwardmarchiafava - 04/03/2013

LOL, the Anointed Ones do no wrong and The Advocate has their back.

8) Comment by chainsaw - 04/03/2013

Whether or not the all of the BRPD acted properly may be in question but the officers are in "combat" daily and put their lives on the line. If you are in the Army etc. and a brother soldier calls for help you respond and respond quickly. Maybe a downtown parade is not likely to be called a combat zone but a call for help is just that. How many shootings happen at parades? How many at schools, theaters etc? When you hear that call for help from a fellow officer it sends chills up your spine. The behavior of officers cursing around parade goers is unacceptable but I guess you have to consider adrenalin will make you behave differently.

9) Comment by Woody - 04/03/2013

sounds like don kelly is saying "do as we say, not as we do."

10) Comment by rockynoggin - 03/03/2013

Just a follow up comment - questioning the Democratic run city parish government goes against the narrative doesn't it? Let's all pretend the Emperor has a fine new suit.

11) Comment by rockynoggin - 03/03/2013

Once again, The Advocate shows a complete lack of journalism. An honest question from the public is given an unquestioned response from the government. I'm sure Don Kelly's answer was vetted by the Police Union.