Court Opinion

ID: 3514220
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-07-05 22:25:22.73497+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:18:03.053044
License: Public Domain

DISSENTING OPINION.
The law has been so long and so firmly settled that a municipality is not liable for the negligence of its officers, agents, and employees while in the performance of governmental duties, that I think any modification thereof or any declaration which would substantially trench upon the practical operation of the rule should be made by legislative enactment rather than by judicial decision. The duties of a policeman are principally governmental, and such minor duties as were imposed by the ordinances here brought under review in respect to the corporate duties of the policeman were merely incidental or subsidiary. Doubtless such incidental duties are imposed generally upon policemen, throughout this state, as well as in other states. Therefore, as it seems to me, it would be more in accord with the settled principles and philosophy of the law to hold, in such a case as this, when nothing is shown than simply that the policeman was patrolling his beat, that the policeman was engaged in the performance of those duties which are his principal or dominant duties, which are governmental. Otherwise the settled rule in all substantial and practical respects becomes reversed from that so long declared in the law, and is left as a mere shadow or shell, so far as such officers of the city are concerned.
Smith, C.J., joins in the above dissent. *Page 538