July 27, 2009
Gatesgate
Here is a bit of advice I have dispensed free of charge since passing the bar: a traffic stop or any other encounter with a police officer in the line of duty is not the time or place for you to run your mouth about what you think your rights might be. If you believe the officer was acting in an unprofessional manner, save it for later and make your complaint to his lieutenant or the chief of police. The departments I have dealt with over the years are very conscious of the image their officers present and will certainly look into any allegations their men and women stepped out of line.
One of my brothers checked in and suggested the "teachable moment" was the 911 call centers need to expand their services: "Press 1, if you are a rock star" "Press 2, if you are a generally known celebrity" "Press 3, if you are a celebrity only among left-leaning college faculty" "Press 4, if you require culturally sensitive police officers, who may not be immediately available" "For all other calls, press 5, if you want the police to arrive, get the bad guys, save the good guys, for awful hours and lousy pay."
Posted by LMC at July 27, 2009 09:27 PM | TrackBackI have had the privilage of working with police officers in the course my volunteer work in small town Virginia. They have been unfailingly professional, polite and respectful, even after one of their own was killed in the line of duty - chasing a bad guy who wanted to kill his ex-girlfriend.
Giving a cop a rash of self important crap is arrogant nonsense. You're not the one who will have have to decide in split second whether to draw the .40 cal in a life and death struggle. The cop doesn't know who you are and shouldn't care.
Posted by: kmr at July 28, 2009 07:54 PM
Image courtesy of the lovely and talented 