Date:         Fri, 17 May 2002 07:47:19 -0400
Reply-To:     David Beierl <dbeierl@ATTGLOBAL.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         David Beierl <dbeierl@ATTGLOBAL.NET>
Subject:      Re: my bad cop story..(was: Re: Just Cause
Comments: To: Andrew Grebneff <andrew.grebneff@STONEBOW.OTAGO.AC.NZ>
In-Reply-To:  <f0510030cb90a6da858b5@[210.55.37.155]>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed

At 06:04 AM 5/17/2002, Andrew Grebneff wrote:
>If a cop behaved like this in New Zealand his victim could make real
>trouble for him. There is NO excuse for a cop to throw his weight
>around, displaying a bad attitude. If he didn't get it the night
>before, that is HIS problem; he has no right to muck the public
>around. Who do these boy-wonders think they are? They are PUBLIC
>SERVANTS. They are there to serve YOU. Not the other way around. It's
>time they were reminded of that.

Police look death in the face every time they make a traffic stop.  They
may have a sense of humor at home, but not at a stop.  They like to see
hands in sight, no fast moves, and they're too busy wondering if *that*
little twitch is the beginning of somebody getting ready to hurt them to
have time or processing power for anything but business.  "Yes sir," "No
sir," "Thank you sir," and "My wallet is in the outside pocket of that bag
on the back seat.  Is it ok to reach back there for it?" are all Good
Things to say to a policeman.

That's not to excuse bad behavior on their part, but you have to consider
the situation.  Police make everybody nervous -- go ahead and be
nervous.  Silently, and keeping those hands in sight.

david


--
David Beierl - Providence, RI
  http://pws.prserv.net/synergy/Vanagon/
'84 Westy "Dutiful Passage"
'85 GL "Poor Relation"