A Philadelphia transit officer was attacked while on duty two weeks ago and his chief says that passersby did nothing more than watch.
Officer Samuel Washington was on patrol at the Cecil B. Moore station near Temple University when Ernest Hays allegedly threw him on the ground and then pinned him under a bench, according to WTXF-TV.
Hays was wanted in connection with a ticket scam when the officer stopped him.
SEPTA Police Chief Thomas Nestel told the news station that not a single passenger called for help and that one woman stopped, but only pulled out her cell phone to record a video of the incident.
"My immediate thought was 'Shame on you. Why don't you use that phone to call 911?,' " he said. "I was horrified. I'm frightened for my cops."
A cashier did call for help, but didn't see the attack until the Washington was on the ground.
"They go out every day and work really hard and try to make it easy for people and make people feel safe but they rely on people to help," Nestel said. "It's starting to take its toll and it's really concerning me."
Washington suffered a serious back injury in the attack and still has not returned to work.
The incident is currently under investigation.
