These rulings, and countless others, make clear that the police do not have a legal duty to protect a citizen, even when that citizen has done everything in their power to summon the police for help. Nor are the above cases just isolated incidents. Taking Chicago as an example, police couldn't respond to over 1,200 emergency calls last year, simply due to a lack of available cop cars. Given these facts, it strikes me as particularly unwise to rely upon the police as one's only means of defense against criminals.