It doesn't help that I am the daughter of a public defender. The stories I've been told about cops not cleaning their cars, arresting people without cause, searches, beatings, etc. Ugh. Who can have a good opinion about them after that.
But then again, whenever I've needed a cop, they've been there. There was a time when I saw a man in my backyard (okay, my parents backyard) at 2 in the morning. I was on the phone to 911 in seconds. I didn't know what a man was doing in the back yard and, again, I am the daughter of a criminal attorney. There was the possibility the guy was an angry client.
Ends up the guy was probably just a peeping tom. Which is bad enough I admit. I took me years before I could sleep alone at my parents place, but still, it could have been worse. I'll hand it to the cops, they were great. The 911 person was nice, kind, patient, and helpful. He stayed with me on the phone until the very moment the cops knocked on my door, after they had searched my backyard (they even brought in the helicopter. Must have been a slow night). The cops got there fast and were very through and pleasant, especially since it was 2AM. I was worried they were going to treat me like an over reacting silly woman, but they didn't, at least not my face. My complaints were taken in a serious manner and one of them informed me that there was a convicted peeping tom on the block. There was no way to connect my experience with him, but it was a good thing to know.
One of the cops was a little overbearing. He kept trying to get me to describe the guy. All I could say was that he looked older, overweight and white. But I was in a high emotional state, it was a little early in the morning, and I didn't get a good look at the guy. I know that eye-witness testimony is very unreliable and I wasn't going to say anything more than I could be sure of despite being pressured (my dad taught me well, what can I say.)
Still, all in all, those cops were great and I appreciated them. I haven't had to call 911 since, but I have a feeling they would be there if I needed them.
Then today happens. I got a flat on the road. Not a big deal, I've had them before. I could change the tire myself, I've done it, but why pay AAA money each year unless I have them do the hard work for me. When I was on the phone with AAA a cop pulls up next to me. He talks to me and assesses the situation. There is another car up the road about a 1/8 of a mile, so he goes to talk to them too. Then he drives, backward (we're on the shoulder so he can do that. lucky man) and hangs with me until the guy comes to change my tire.
He's a nice gentleman. Seems he's had an interesting life, living in different places and seeing different things. And here he is taking care of me. I really don't need to be taken care of, but it's nice to have him there. Its comforting to know nothing is going to happen to me. No one is going to pull up to me and kidnap me, the tire guys aren't going to do anything, nothing is going to happen.
Am I getting special treatment because I'm a small, attractive, white, women? Would I get the same care if I was an overweight black women? I don't know. I hope not, but I can't deny the possibility that there could be differences. Of course, the cop did pull up next to me while I was still sitting in it, so he didn't know what I looked like. That's point in his favor.
So I want to thank that cop and all cops. I'm sure, like every profession, you have the bad apples, but as a whole, you are pretty cool. I won't lie. I'm still going to make fun of you and laugh at the donut shop jokes. I'm still going to be pissy if I get pulled over for speeding. But underneath all that, I'm glad you are there. I'm glad you come over and treat me well at 2 in the morning. I'm glad you're willing to protect me on the side of the road. I'm glad I can see you when I walk down K street. Thank you all. And to that cop today, who's badge I looked at three times to get the name and I still don't remember it(it might have the word Spain somewhere in there), thanks. I'm glad you were there.
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