Great article on self-reliance for self-defense

[Dragonfighter]

When I was getting my commission back in college, the one thing that was hammered home and finally sank in is the police officers' role is to find, capture and punish the guilty. The are an after effect as it were. The deterrence of patrolling vehicles, etc.; is a beneficial side effect. But my personal experience dictates that calling for police, with a three minute response still leaves a bunch of trouble that needs to be mitigated before they arrive. I did.

Dragonfighter is absolutely correct here.

If police are called when the BG's are in the preliminary stages of their plan and the action hasn't started yet, there's a reasonable chance they can get there in time to handle the entire incident.

If the main action has already begun, any GG's who don't have an escape option (or who choose to stand and fight in their own homes) are on their own for handling whatever can't wait during the time it takes for police to respond and gain effective control of the incident.