The National Police Association To Broadcast New Television PSA Urging Americans To Immediately Assist Police Officers In Danger

"Assist the Officer" Video Asks Citizens to Assist Police Officers in Danger by Immediately Calling 9-1-1 Rather than Simply Filming for Social Media

News provided by

National Police Association

Nov 20, 2020, 09:00 ET

INDIANAPOLIS, Nov. 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Police Association (NPA) announced today their latest public service announcement, which is the first educational campaign to inform on the dangers of filming, instead of helping, struggling police officers. The "Assist the Officer" PSA campaign urges listeners and viewers to help law enforcement that appear to be struggling while completing an arrest by calling 9-1-1, rather than merely film an officer in danger for social media.

On October 9, 2020, a Baltimore MTA police officer was found unconscious at the Upton Metro Subway station, with no citizens rendering aid. Instead, an individual chose to film the incapacitated officer with a cell phone to post on social media. On October 17, 2020, a North Carolina police officer was airlifted to a hospital after brutally being beaten, and once again, instead of helping this officer a bystander stood by and filmed the incident. Citizens across the country have taken to filming and posting officers in danger to their social media channels rather than calling 9-1-1. Through the "Assist the Officer" PSA, the NPA aims to create awareness around the dangers posed to both officers and citizens when passersby choose to merely film officers in danger with their phones instead of calling 9-1-1 for assistance.

"Many times, incidents where struggling police officers are captured via cell phones go widely unnoticed, except on social media, with local and national news rarely reporting on the issue," said National Police Association Spokesperson Sgt. Betsy Brantner Smith (Ret.) "This PSA will inform citizens on how filming, instead of aiding, a police officer in danger is an incredible risk for law enforcement professionals, and the communities they serve. The NPA strives to end this behavior, and ensure the dangers this poses to police officers gains more news coverage on a local and national level."

"Assist the Officer" will be distributed through TV Access to over 1,800 U.S. television cable networks and major market stations. A radio version is also being distributed to 1,000 radio stations across America for airplay nationally. The 60 sec TV PSA can be viewed here.

About The National Police Association
The National Police Association (NPA) is a 501(C)3 non-profit organization, EIN 82-0647764, founded to educate supporters of law enforcement in how to help police departments accomplish their goals. The NPA works to bring national and local attention to the anti-police efforts challenging effective law enforcement, building public support for needed actions through public service announcements, legal filings, articles authored for the NPA by law enforcement experts and the NPA Report. For additional information, please visit www.nationalpolice.org.

SOURCE National Police Association