# Deputization/Police not obligated to help

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deputization-police-not-obligated-to-help/531417>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [March 5, 2010, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deputization-police-not-obligated-to-help/531417 "2010-03-05T15:14:18Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\
**Post date:** [March 5, 2010, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deputization-police-not-obligated-to-help/531417/1 "2010-03-05T15:14:18Z")

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I came across this article this morning:

[http://www.disinfo.com/2010/03/the-police-arent-legally-obligated-to-protect-you/](http://www.disinfo.com/2010/03/the-police-arent-legally-obligated-to-protect-you/)

I did not know this before this morning, however, it is my understanding that the police/sheriff’s department are fully entitled to obligate(deputize) me to help _them_.

They _ **don’t** _ have to help me, but I _ **have to** _ help them? How is this possible? What is the reasoning for this?