Token, I disagree with your analogy, since laws are there to protect everyone, and a policeman enforces the laws of his jurisdiction for everyone present in that jurisdiction.
I.C.E. has a contract with my agency that requires my agency to transport prisoners in the state of Georgia. While on these transport details, I am driving in a government vehicle and am required to wear a badge and gun at all times. If my transport detail carries me into Toccoa Falls Georgia and I need fuel, I must stop at a gas station in that city and purchase fuel. If I need to use the restroom while at this gas station, I happen across a robbery, should get a good description of the robber and call 911? After all, I'm not in my jurisdiction.
Not only will I be called a coward and slammed on local and possible national outlets (as I should be), I've also brought a huge embarrassment on my agency and will most likely lead to the end of my career. I have a moral obligation to help that person in distress regardless of my jurisdiction. Not because they are a person being robbed, but because I'm on the scene of the crime with the tools needed to assist the victim.
You show me a police officer (on or off duty) who refuses to assist a citizen in trouble regardless of jurisdiction, and I'll show you a coward who lacks what it takes to protect the sheep. You show me a firefighter in the area of a burning house (WITH THE FUCKING FIRE TRUCK) who watches someone's life burn to the ground, and I'll show you someone who won't run into your house to save you or your family.
My issue isn't whether or not they should have responded. Their policy prohibits them from responding to houses outside of their jurisdiction who have not paid the fee. Fine. But to come the aid of the neighbor, and stand there while this family watches their house burn down? I have no respect for any fireman on that scene. The fact that none of them said
"fuck the policy, we're already here so let's help the people" tells me all I need to know about those individuals, and their leaders. It's fucking WATER. What's it going to cost the department? $1000.00 at the most? They are willing to put their department in the line of National public scrutiny for a few hundred dollars?
This fire fighting service is an OPTION that was generously extended at a reasonable cost to people who otherwise would not have had access at all. In this case, the family chose not to avail themselves of the service, with tragic consequences.
People make choices - and some of them have horrible consequences. That's life. I understand their anger but - actions have consequences.
Again, my problem isn't with the policy. It's with these dicksuckers who's conscience allowed them to stand around and not help a citizen (WHO THEY COULD SEE NEEDED HELP). If their conscience allowed them to stand and watch a family while the house burned down with offering to help, what will their conscience allow them to do when a child is trapped upstairs? As a citizen of that city, I'd be very concerned with that fire crew and it's leadership.
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