Greg Kendall-Ball, Abilene Reporter-News (Texas)

The recent shooting of an unarmed teenager in Florida – and the ensuing public outrage – has raised the larger issue of just how far civilians should go in assisting police. Over the weekend, officials in Florida released tapes of 911 calls related to the Feb. 26 shooting of Trayvon Martin, 17, in a gated community outside Orlando. Martin reportedly was walking to his father’s house from a nearby 7-Eleven, carrying a bag of Skittles and a drink.

George Zimmerman, a 28-year-old neighborhood watch volunteer, called police and reported “a real suspicious guy.” Against the 911 dispatcher’s advice, Zimmerman began to follow Martin, according to reports.

A few minutes later, Martin was dead. Zimmerman, who has claimed self-defense, has not been arrested or charged with any crime.

One of the released recordings shows Zimmerman complaining that “these (people), they always get away.”

According to Doug Wrenn, assistant chief of the Abilene Police Department, civilians’ response to possible criminal activity is dictated by each situation.

For example, an Abilene resident sees someone driving erratically and suspects the person is driving under the influence. They call 911, describe the vehicle, and give the location and direction of travel.

Then what?

“We generally leave (the decision) up to the citizen,” Wrenn said. “The dangers are always there, and we value our citizens’ lives as exceptional witnesses.”

“If the citizen believes it is safe for them to continue following a drunk driver, then by all means they can,” he said.

But, Wrenn said, if the vehicle is driving at higher speeds, “then we do not want yet another vehicle without emergency lights engaged in that type of driving behavior.”

Like those of Florida, Texas’ gun laws include a “stand your ground” clause, which does not require that a person attempt to “retreat” when life or property are threatened.

In Abilene on Saturday, a homeowner reportedly held a would-be thief at gunpoint until police arrived to arrest the suspect. Wrenn suggested caution when using force as a civilian.

“Any citizen confronted with a situation that calls for a use of force will have to ensure that their decision is justified per the penal code,” Wrenn said.

“You must live with yourself the rest of your life, and you must be able to sleep knowing that you did not use force that was unreasonable given the circumstances. In other words, a citizen should weigh all options fully before utilizing any level of force,” he said.

Wrenn added that, in a litigious society, even justified uses of force – in criminal law – still could be questioned through the civil court system.

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