“This is why I laugh at those supposed “rugged individualists” on this site. The rationale for these cases rises from the individualism forming one of the premises of the Common Law.”
I think it is much simpler. If the court ruled that the police had a duty to protect individuals, they could be sued for every crime that occurs. It would rapidly bankrupt the State.
I do not know of any government anywhere that allows police to be sued because an individual was the victim of a crime, unless the police had a “special duty” such as being assigned to guard someone, and then egregiously failed in that “special duty”.
I do not know about the Civil Law and a governmental officers duty to protect or help an injured person. There does not necessarily have to be a response in damages for breach of any duty to protect-loss of ones job could be enough punishment.