Did you know that the Fire and Police Dept. have no obligation to rescue you in case of fire?
The fire dept. can hide behind a clause called "special relationship" which means they do not have to rescue you or even use fire equipment that taxes pay for. The same with the police dept. They do not have to look for a person that is missing and of age and you have no recourse for either. Check out Coyne vs. City of Utica, missing 2001. Mothers beware, the fire stickers mean nothing. Anyone interested use email.
I don't know about fire departments, but in the US, according to the Supreme Court, police departments are not obligated to act unless they specifically said they would. (for example: I call 911, the operator says an officer is on their way, they don't show up. The department is liable).
Stupid doctrine, but is really the very reason why police departments has gone from one of protecting the public from getting their butts kicked, to one that is merely cleaning up after the fact (sorry - if I am already beat up or worse, you can't help me).
Our local PD won't even respond to an unverified burglar alarm calls. They claim not to have the resources. Of course they have all the resources in the world to blanket the city to rid society of people who don't use seat belts (saving our democracy), or protecting the local donut shop from intruders (no joke - local hangout).
9/11 was unusual I am afraid to say. Most cops sit and wait until they have so much firepower they cannot lose. Unfortunately, the victim is either dead or hurt badly by that time (what good is the cops then?). Firefighters on the other hand do kick some major butt when it comes to actually saving people. There may be a doctrine in place for them as well - but I have never seen it used ever. (I have seen it used as a general rule in LE)
