Dropping the Ball

Over the years I have collected many first hand experiences of the MPD’s failures and misdeeds, from payoffs, to failure to return calls regarding evidence in a felony burglary, which I had information about (which included the name of the perpetrator).

Last week I was sitting in the Fuel Café, doing some daily writing. I anticipated drama when I saw a man approach on the sidewalk, using the plate glass window as an aid to keep him upright. He entered the café and reached for the first available chair. In the act of doing so, he lost his balance, falling forward and hitting the edge of a table, squarely with his face. It was 1:00 P.M., and the café was near capacity. A man from a nearby table assisted the guy, and attempted to administer some first- aid, while a barista dialed 911. An ambulance arrived, and the medic who seemed to be in charge immediately became confrontational with the victim, who was obviously intoxicated, and belligerent. The man kept giving his name as Kaiser Soze, without anyone getting the “Usual Suspects” reference.

The police came, and they took him outside, where they tried to coax him into the ambulance. He was bleeding pretty good from a ½” ‘t’ shaped gash on the bridge of his nose. Another police squad arrived. 5 public servants stood around a bleeding man for a half hour, then, slowly they dissipated. The last cop on the scene waited for the drunken man to walk to the end of the block before getting in his squad and driving the other direction, and right around the corner, out of the sight of the man, but still in view from the front door of the Café, as I exited.

When I got to the corner, the guy was still standing there, with a  small pool of blood on the sidewalk, where it had accumulated after dripping off of the end of his nose. I asked him if he needed help getting home, and he mumbled something incoherently to me. I did an about face and walked around the corner, where the cop was still sitting in his cruiser. I motioned for him to roll down his window. He did, but with a look of disbelief.

“You know, you guys really dropped the ball, back there.” I stated flatly.

“Whaddayamean?”

“I mean… you left a drunk man bleeding on the corner.”

“What are we supposed to do? He refused treatment…” was the excuse.

“Right!” I said with obvious disgust, and walked off.

Now, I know you can’t force somebody to accept medical treatment, or go to the ER, but I am pretty sure there are regulations (or ethics) that deal with leaving someone, who is already proven to be, at the very least, a danger to himself, to roam free in the community… But really, what do I know?

What is your opinion? Do you think the scenario was handled properly?