the root of the problem
August 30, 2007Dear Metro Police Officer Who Gave Me a Ticket Tonight:
At first, I was more bothered that you insulted my intelligence by honestly thinking that I’d be driving ten miles over the limit knowing you were behind me. I know that it’s my word against yours in court, and I’ll lose that battle. Whatever, I’m over it.
After a few hours of reflection, I’ve got a much bigger bone to pick with you.
When I was a kid, I was taught that police officers were safe, strong people that I could trust and always go to when I was in trouble. The only title higher than cop was perhaps a firefighter. Maybe an astronaut. Regardless of the few terrible experiences I’ve had with cops, I thought I’d always look at you with respect. It’s what I was taught and it’s what you deserve.
Now I know that there is a whole culture that thinks you’re evil, and that you’re out to get us working folk. I’ve tried for years and years to make my goddaughter believe, despite what she hears in some of the circles she’s exposed to, that policemen and women do not exist to take things away from her family and to hold them down, but to protect us as a whole.
Tonight when you walked up to my car and you saw a very vulnerable and polite 8 year old in my passenger seat, you acted like a jerk when you had no need to. You didn’t acknowledge her presence, and you didn’t bother for one moment to treat me as though I may be a person making a first mistake (as my record showed when you pulled up my driving history) but instead talked down to me as though I was the scum of the earth, being caught committing some God awful crime. When I asked you a question about my ticket, you didn’t even bother responding, but gave a shoulder shrug and pursed your lips rather than answer.
While I don’t agree with the way my goddaughter is being taught to view some of our finest citizens, your behavior this evening leaves me no doubt as to why she may grow up not having faith in your need to protect her.
With utmost sincerity,
Me
I have some pretty good friends that are cops. They are pricks and bastards too. I think they teach them that sort of stuff in the academy these days.
You should totally send this to the chief. I’m serious. Officers have no reason to treat people this way unless there’s just cause. He’s giving the whole force a bad name.
I had an officer (in GA) treat me like scum for speeding when I was just a frightened 22-year-old and I’ve been a little leery of all police officers ever since.
Wow. You’re not having a very week are you? {{hugs}} Here’s hoping your weekend is relaxing, happy & completely cop-free!
That was a good post. VERY Good.
People teach children lessons, good and bad, by their actions.
You hit it on the head.
Well said. I’m sorry you got a ticket, but you’re right he didn’t have to be a jerk about it. He missed an opportunity to be a good example.
If we both send our letters to the Chief, maybe they’ll realize that something is terribly wrong.
Ridiculous!
[...] girl Jag has some thoughts for the Officer who wrote her a ticket last night. I’ll let her tell it. When I was a kid, I was taught that police officers were safe, strong people that I could trust and [...]
Makes me appreciate my East Nashville cops. They’ve always been great and had a level head.
They had a speed trap setup on Main once. I got tagged going 10-ish over. The cop walked up to my window and said “Your record is clean and I personally feel there are better ways for us to be spending our time out here. But my supervisor is over in the car over there. So if you just keep nodding and act like I’m explaining the court process to you, in a moment I’m going to hand you an empty envelope with nothing written on it. Ok, so, slow it down and have a nice evening”. Handed me the envelope and i drove away.
My wife was in the car - i have a witness. Besides feeling really lucky my respect for the precinct tripled on the spot.
Most cops i’ve encountered are asses…even the ones i’m related to. My 9 yr old son learned first hand, that certain cops don’t believe in the “innocent until proven guilty”. Which is a total shame. I have no doubt he will grow up distrusting police now.
It’s something that so many cops think they can’t get respect without being intimidating. Yet, I do know, personally, a couple officers who are down right decent. They are obviously outnumbered. And they don’t like how Serpas runs the department, either.
This just further supports my theory that the police have to fill a certain kind of quota, no matter whether you were going 1/2 a mile over the speed limit or 15. I’m honestly beginning to wonder if they also get a commission.