I encountered the very same people when I was a paramedic. I had a partner take a bullet to the face. Physical attacks were commonplace. My last two years on the job we were issued body armor. But when we arrived on the scene we were unarmed and only had our presence of mind to protect us. We generally arrived to those domestic disturbances about 10 minutes before the police if they showed up at all. Which was fine. As a rule they weren't what I would call effective at diffusing situations.
