Uechi-Ryu.com

Some points from reality on being a witness. (Specially in states where your human right to own weapons and use them for self-defense is denied).

The crime goes down, and you decide to be a good witness. The cops arrive and will get all your personal info. In places like LA they will also run your for warrants and such (if you are a wanted man, do not be any kind of witness).

That personal info will be written into a police report and will become public information. Will the bad guys get a copy of the report? You bet your sweet gazzippies the attorney representing them will demand it. Will your name be on it? It depends if the officer releasing the copy or the DA handing it over black it out or not...my experience has been they do not.

So would you walk over to the murderer you are planning to testify against and hand him your driver's license? No? Hmmmm. That is in effect what you will do.

Think the cops will protect you? Do we really need to go into that???

Another thing, unless the bad guy admits he was caught red handed and does not contest the charges, it will inevitably go to trial. Every single time it does, you will be subpoenad and be required to show up. How much time can you take away from work? Justice is much more important than your mortgage...sorry.

I am not saying NEVER to be a witness, but understand the baggage that comes with it. There are very few events I will intervene in that do not directly involve me, and fewer that I will volunteer as a witness. That is my personal perspective on it. Sorry to burst any bubbles.

As well as the persons description also remember details about the crime scense.

Lawyers are very slick to ask about distances, lighting conditions, weather conditions, etc, etc during cross examination.

Soon after making an arrest I would return to the crime scene to pace off distances, see where light sources were located and would go over my reports to remember what I had written about the perps clothing, facial hair, etfc, etc,

For the civilian try to get plate numbers, the direction that the perp escaped to, height, weight, clothing, type of vehicle and things such as that.
If you ever do testify don't be afraid to say, "I don't recall" when asked questions about time, distance, etc, etc. ( If, in fact, you really don't remember)

When out with a friend or a willing to play the game spouse, have him or her suddenly ask you (at a time of their choosing) things like "okay, tell me about the people in the 7-11 we just left." Or "okay, tell me about the people in the booth behind you." Or "okay, what was so and so wearing in the shootout scene of the movie. What did his attackers look like?"

This will force you to start becoming more aware of your surroundings, develop a better eye for particulars, and actually activate neural pathways that seldom get much use/practice.

My suggestion....stop by a pay phone...give them the info you saw...and get back on with your life. Sorry if this is not civically responsible, but that is what I'd do if I didn't want to get involved with it.

There is a time for that but consider all consequences of getting involved. Some of these people are not the poor granny getting beaten up by a gang, but are simply one thug group kicking another thug to the deck. Will you risk yourself for them?

Think it over both before drawing the gun, or the phone.