Here's a fact:
It's too bad that Zimmerman's “dedicated” service didn't include following the rules of his neighborhood watch program manual. If he did, none of this circus would be happening.
Wendy Dorival, a local police officer who coordinates neighborhood watch programs, says that she had told Zimmerman in September 2011 never to take matters into his own hands:
“I said, ‘If it’s someone you don’t recognize, call us. We’ll figure it out. . . Observe from a safe location.' There’s even a slide about not being vigilante police. I don’t know how many more times I can repeat it.”
19:14:50 Dispatcher: Okay do you want to just meet with them right near the mailboxes then? 19:14:54 Zimmerman: Yeah that’s fine. [more faint slapping/flapping noises] 19:14:58 Dispatcher: Alright George, I’ll let them know to meet you [unintelligible] there okay? 19:14:59 Zimmerman: Actually could you…could you have them call me and I’ll tell them where I’m at?
It was the dispatcher's suggestion to meet at the mailboxes. Zimmerman rejected it after seemingly first complying, just has he had rejected the previous suggestion not to follow Martin.
I don’t see how the fact that Zimmerman was trained in the proper techniques of the Neighborhood Watch Program can be counted against him.