“No excusing striking a cop, but he did perform the first assault.”
Pure BS. He was off duty and shouldn’t be considered a COP. He He should be considered at most a hired gun for the IHOP. We’ve had them here covering for drug deals and everything else and short circuiting legit calls by sending a patrol car away.
I'm not sure where you got your brain, but I'd ask for a refund. Cops are COPS 24/7, wherever they are, in or out of uniform. As a former police officer, I can tell you this as a certainty.
It is my understanding that, even off shift, they are still considered on duty.