We're here to handle things that the government may not be equipped to, at least not on as wide or grand a scale as we're able to go. We cooperate with them just as much as they cooperate with us, and if we start assuming it's our place to decide what we can or cannot intervene in (such as muggings), we may be stepping on toes we don't want to be stepping on. In short, we should respect and recognise the authority that exists without assuming it's our place to do their jobs for them.