Lots of us complain about the police.

[grouchy]

Sometimes it is nice to offer compliments.

We had a serious problem with my mom early Tuesday morning. Called in a request for an ambulance. About 10 minutes later a voice called out from the
front door. An officer from Maypearl came out to help even though we are
10 miles outside his jurisdiction. He came just he cares.

I stopped by the station yesterday and talked to the Chief. He appreciated it.

[grouchy]

Should have said, "just because he cares"

[millergrovesue]

Wonderful anecdote. And good for you for telling the higher ups.

I've historically had 95% positive relations with law enforcement. I think a lot of it is due to my treating them with respect and appreciation. Have had 2 experiences just this week with highway patrol officers.

One here by our house where some idiot hit 3 cows, stuck his truck in a ditch, and ran. I talked with the officer because his car was blocking our driveway and I needed out. He was saddened about the cows, commented that the owner of the cows was the one who called in the report, talked about what a great guy the owner is - and he is, and told me they had found a syringe in the truck. Really nice guy.

Second was the rookie woman who gave me the ticket (which I'm still irked about - first ticket in 44 years and USAA is gonna raise my rates? I'm fighting that.) She was pleasant, respectful, amusing, and completely professional.

I can't imagine what makes people want to be in law enforcement, heck, or in fire work or emergency service. But, I'm so glad they are out there. Most are good folks wanting to do good work.

[crocmommy]

Hope your Mom is OK.

[grouchy]

Hope your Mom is OK.

Tks. She is in the hospital. Pneumonia, but for a 92 year old
woman she pretty amazing.

[Sloanmiester]

I was a police officer for two years. Saw a lot of good done. Saw a lot of heartache too. I got out after dealing with a serial rapist who had a rich daddy and a high powered attorney.

[grouchy]

I was a police officer for two years. Saw a lot of good done. Saw a lot of heartache too. I got out after dealing with a serial rapist who had a rich daddy and a high powered attorney.

I hope one of the victims dads corrected the situation.

[millergrovesue]

I was a police officer for two years. Saw a lot of good done. Saw a lot of heartache too. I got out after dealing with a serial rapist who had a rich daddy and a high powered attorney.

Very sad. I think there are many who, like you, become disillusioned and leave the profession when they see that sometimes "justice" is sold to the highest bidder.

[millergrovesue]

I hope one of the victims dads corrected the situation.

Or better yet - a victim.

[crocmommy]

Anyone see the story Shawn Rabb did yesterday on Fox4 about training police when to shoot? Interesting...

[truep]

I've never had any run with the police except in Louisiana. I was driving down I 10 coming back from New Orleans. Got pulled over around 10 Am.
The guy was a surly SOB, he searched my car and baggage. i wouldn't have minded the search if he had been nice about it.

[jellowrestling]

Nice story, Grouchy. Hope that your mom is OK.

Never had a problem with a police officer. Had one who was slightly annoyed when he pulled me over for having an expired inspection sticker, and I showed him the receipt that showed that I had literally just driven it out of the shop after having it repaired, but he just told me to get it taken care of, then sent me on my. way.

[grouchy]

We finally got to bring her home yesterday. Tis a good thing.

Her cat is going nuts with wanting attention. She stays in the garage, barn or
just roams around. Very seldom wants petting but as I sit here on the porch, she is rubbing against my leg.

[John in Plano]

Glad your mom is home grouchy.

[BillB]

I had problems with the police when I was a kid.
The cops in my town were gunning for teen-age boys.
I've had them pull me over, search my car and seize things of value, claiming it might be evidence of a crime. I never got it back, even though I went to the police station and asked for it. I thought all police were that way. Looking back I think these cops were a bunch of rogues. Every kid I knew had similar experiences.

Since I've been an adult I've had very good relations with the police.
Anytime I'm pulled over, I put my arms out the car window so my hands are in plain sight. They appreciate that. Their greatest fear is pulling over a criminal or a nut who will shoot them when they approach the car. When they ask for my license, I tell them it's in my back pocket and ask permission to reach back there to get it. If I have a gun in the car, I always tell them and tell them where it is. Never offer an excuse for your infraction. Just apologize. Never complain. Be polite.
They remember these courtesies when it comes time to decide whether to write a ticket or give a warning.

[GFB]

They don't give warnings in this part of the country. If they pull you over, you're getting a ticket.

[grouchy]

I had problems with the police when I was a kid.
The cops in my town were gunning for teen-age boys.
I've had them pull me over, search my car and seize things of value, claiming it might be evidence of a crime. I never got it back, even though I went to the police station and asked for it. I thought all police were that way. Looking back I think these cops were a bunch of rogues. Every kid I knew had similar experiences.

Since I've been an adult I've had very good relations with the police.
Anytime I'm pulled over, I put my arms out the car window so my hands are in plain sight. They appreciate that. Their greatest fear is pulling over a criminal or a nut who will shoot them when they approach the car. When they ask for my license, I tell them it's in my back pocket and ask permission to reach back there to get it. If I have a gun in the car, I always tell them and tell them where it is. Never offer an excuse for your infraction. Just apologize. Never complain. Be polite.
They remember these courtesies when it comes time to decide whether to write a ticket or give a warning.

You are a wise man. I would add that if at night, turn on the dome lights.

[jellowrestling]

They don't give warnings in this part of the country. If they pull you over, you're getting a ticket.

I got stopped in August. Officer saw my shirt and name tag that identified where I worked, told me to slow down, and sent me on my way.

[Red Oak]

Yesterday evening as I approached my house, on a semi-rural road I noticed traffic backing up.

As I got closer I saw that the local Poleece had a line of yellow cones across the road in front of my house and were directing traffic to the road that tees into the right side of the road that my house is on. About 3/8th of a mile past my driveway I see all sorts of large wreckers, fire trucks and Poleece cars; and what appears to be a large tractor trailer rig that has overturned into a deep bar ditch. In order not to back up traffic worse than it is, I turn to the right as directed and wait until the backup has cleared.

I then turn around and go back and park in front of the cones that are set up, turn on my flashers and slowly get out of my truck and start walking to the two Squad Cars, to politely may ask them if I may drive around the traffic cones and enter my driveway, that is about 150 feet past their cones.

As I approach the Police Woman, snarls at me “Do you know you are blocking traffic” - I restrain myself from telling her that it is sort of a moot point and ignore her, and turn to the sullen poleece Sergeant that is sitting in his unmarked SUV, and say “My drive way is the second one on the right just past your cones, would you obliged me by allowing me to drive around your traffic cones so I can get to my home ? “ He replies “Sure that is OK as long as you don’t go past the poleece cars down there” . I reply “No Sir I only need to get to my driveway that is about a 150 feet past you”.

I get back in the truck and drive around them slowly and enter my driveway. There were about 8 driveways in the blocked off area, so it wasn’t like it would be unexpected for someone to stop and ask if they could pass the cones.

If the Poleece woman would have simply said, Sir what do you need or Sir you can’t park there etc. it would have made a lot more sense to me.

What she did is undo any goodwill I have tried to build up for this Poleece Department since the former Chief was sentenced to 3 years in the Federal Pen for corruption, a Police Captain got probation for stealing from the evidence and recovered property room, and a couple of others got probation for being involved with the aforementioned criminal cops.

All that being said there are at least a couple on the first who have been extremely professional in the contacts I have had with them.

[ralph]

best I can say about police is that the less I have to do with them then the better I like it . Their attitudes sure have changed since I saw them around many years ago as a kid and young adult .