Iron City
Peace Officer status for the PIC stems from marine law. The purpose is not to make the PIC or Ships Captain a “Law Enforcement Officer”, but to have in place, on the vessel a figure of authority with the backing of the courts to maintain good order and in a Ships Captains case, discipline.
Consider that, when a ship or aircraft are under way, they may be crossing multi-jurisdictions nationally and internationally and are not immediately accessible by normal law enforcement means. Does that mean when we have a rowdy passenger on board that may be violating local or international law, do we go back, cuff him, arrest him and read him his rights? No. If this or these offending persons are a hazard to the safety of the aircraft, crew or passengers, the PIC can authorize to have the offender restrained (if physically possible by cabin crew and volunteer passengers), land at the nearest suitable airport, and have the local authorities arrest the offender. The PIC will relay documented events and evidence, and the offender will have his day in court.
Due to the inaccessible nature of ocean going ships on the high seas, the Captain is also granted the power and authority to use whatever force required to maintain good order and discipline on the ship. I know a few Ships Captains, and they’ve never been to Mountie school either.
I bring all this up as it seems the roles, duties and authority of the PIC have become muddled lately, in part our own fault. Rather than being seen as a professional whom not only fly’s the aircraft (along with some very competent First Officers), and CEO of a multi-million dollar company (its up to you and your crew when that aircraft pushes back from the gate), we’ve become in managements and the public eye, overpaid prima-donnas that work ten days a month.
I know I’m going to pay for that last line.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------