""But if police say back off and we'll take care of it when we finally wipe the powdered sugar off our mouths, get off our asses, and actually respond when we decide to get 'round to it, he's not covered by the law."
There. Fixed.
Your comment has merit. I would like to add that in fact, a 911 operator or police dispatcher has no authority to order anyone to back off. Only a police officer in person, on the scene, has that authority. Mr. Zimmerman was not in violation of the law when he followed Mr. Martin.
In my opinion it was unwise of him to get close.