(since it was far down the board I started a new thread.)
Yes you should. Although it won't do any good directly to you, they may be a little more careful next time.
I recently had a similar experience at work. About 2 or 3 weeks ago I was unloading demo trash from my pickup into one of our dumpsters. Suddenly a police car showed up and two officers was asking me if I had permission to do that. I laughed at them, told them I did because I worked there. Then the short black cop asked me where my "worker id" was. We never had anything like that so I got a little angry and told him I didn't have one. Actually I said "What?!!! We don't have any sh*t like that out here!"
I had my hair down and suddenly realizing this so I started telling them I knew what this was all about. I then proceeded to tell the black cop who had a shaved head how impractical it is to shave his head every morning. I couldn't help myself.
They denied it had anything to do with my hair and the older white cop said he wore his hair long once. They run my license and my tag while I proceeded to call the maintenance supervisor.
They older cop actually asked me for my phone to talk to the supervisor himself, I just smiled, put up the phone and told him, "he'll be here in a minute." While we were waiting he wanted to continue asking me more questions. I said, "look, he'll be here in a minute, there isn't any reason to discuss it anymore until then."
The supervisor arrived to verify my employ, he thought the whole thing quite amusing.
I was just laughing at them the whole time because I knew they didn't have a leg to stand on. The older cop got in my space a little once and asked me if I had a problem with him "doing his job?" I said "No, of course not but do you have a problem with me doing mine?"
This of course was one of those trick questions, if I had said "yes" then he would have had a reason to arrest me for "interfering with an officer" or something.
I pushed the issue a little but I knew how far to go. I do believe I made them feel a little foolish. I later found out, from another cop, the short black cop was a rookie fresh out of the academy. Good training for him then.
Later in the break room everybody showed up and we all had some good laughs about it. Not in 15 years have they ever confronted anyone about dumping trash in their dumpsters.
This apartment complex in one of those that has daily violence and an occasional shootout. I've replaced windows with bullet holes, dug bullets out of the roofing, repaired drywall from domestic violence and replaced busted doors because the DEA don't bother knocking.
Looks to me like the local po-po got their priorities all mixed up. lol. Stupid cops.
Paul
This fascist attitude that some of these officers (and some cop huggers on police websites) espouse is very troubling. The power that they have and abuse is but a shadow of what some would prefer, yet already too much in my humble libertarian point of view.
Lol, I still can't believe they asked for your "worker's ID"
Yeah, "worker's ID", wft? That's what ruffled my feathers. If he hadn't said that I wouldn't have hurt his feelings.
Paul
Yes - cops can be a nuisance and a tedious pain in the neck. The cops on the beat and the young ones just fresh into the force are usually the ones who like to exercise their new found "power". They haven't helped me over the years at all, mostly just hindered me. One of the reasons I went back to short hair after my teens was to blend in better because I just got sick and tired of walking down the street and having them pull me up wanting to know what I was doing etc. This harassment ceased after I went to short hair. A coincidence?
But being rude to them won't help any. Being firm and polite without giving much away is better. Try to avoid talking to them at all. They aren't there to help but to enforce their laws unto everyone else.
Just wish they will go after the real criminals - corporate f**kers and corrupt politicians. But that rarely happens....
Duncan
Absolutely right Duncan.
I have a few police friends and I get along quite well with them and most cops in general. Guess that's why I have no fear of them.
One of my friends from school is a cop now. I remember he was expelled for trying to burn down the school. Me and him had quite a time with matches. Ironic.
I once worked for an ex-homicide detective. Lots of great stories. He once wore one of those hats with a ponytail on it to work. It was really funny. He retired on me or I'd still be working for him.
I have a little cop friend that weighs about 90 lbs. soaking wet. She plays Roller Derby. Feisty little thing.
I know quite a few more that are only acquaintances but none have ever had a problem with the hair. Those guys that harassed me were just not paying attention.
Lol, you know that ain't going to happen. They rule the world.
Paul
Most cops are OK - but my point was that the minority that pick on people for silly petty stuff where there is no real crime (being no victims) and enforcing stupid laws where the action the person is doing is not harming anyone else.
Duncan
Yeah, I know what you meant. I just didn't want any "cop lurkers" to think that I hate cops just because it's fun to do so. Lol
And I do agree with you.
Paul
The worst is the bad cops who dont do crap until the end of the month, then they pick on anybody for any little reason they can find to fill their quota.
Theres a cop around where I live that if he doesnt meet his quota, he sits outside of my highschool and gives out ticket to any GUYs that go to my school for speeding.
The thing is, its 25mph limit (school zone) buy everybody that goes through there does around 45. And girls, guys, and adults will go by all doing the same speed and he only pulls over guys. The last time, two girl went past him racing each other, and he didn't do anything.