VIDEO: We’ve Got a Jumper!
Via Fox News Insider:
A wild scene unfolded Tuesday in Houston when a police officer jumped out of a helicopter to tackle a burglary suspect who had fled into a field.
It all started when Houston cops responded to a call about a burglary. When they arrived at the residence, two suspects drove off and the chase ensued.
A Houston police department helicopter followed one suspect into a field.The suspect was struck by a police car, but that didn’t stop him.
Concerned that they would lose him in the field, the helicopter pilots decided to land so Officer Steven Borgstedte could pursue on foot.
The video above, captured by local SkyFOX cameras, shows Borgstedte sprint across the field and tackle the suspect. After a brief struggle, the man was placed in handcuffs with help from other officers.
Borgstedte said he has been patrolling for years, but this is the first time he’s ever jumped out of a chopper to make an arrest.
Decades ago it was common for individual Police Officer’s to self insure for False arrest. Liability insurance however is a far different matter. First: What insurer is going to offer such coverage? Second: What happens to the doctrine of Respondeat Superior which mandates that the employer is responsible for the torts committed by employees. Who pays for insurance coverage; the Officer; the City or both. If it’s the Officer how can he/ she be compelled to purchase insurance as a condition of employment? Suppose the Officer has a prior incident for which he/ she was exonerated by the employer. Does that Officer become uninsurable? If so,will he/ she be terminated from employment as a Police Officer ? If such a termination does occur, does that Officer become unemployable as a Law Enforcement Officer in another jurisdiction? From this scenario, future lawsuits against the City may well become an employment opportunity for local Bar?
I think this idea needs a lot of work before the voters see it as a ballot issue. It is an idea generated by fuzzy thinkers.