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You never need a cop when one is around

by Prometheus 6
February 3, 2005 - 5:36pm.
on Random rant

No one is here to read about my life. I know that because I don't much write about it, and you're here. But sometimes...and due to a lack of decent social reflexes (maaaaybe I'll write about that too) there's rarely anyone I can vent on.

Recently Mayor Bloomberg appeared on Staten Island to tell folks all the wonderful things he has in mind for us. One thing he promised was to increase police presence around here, and damned if he didn't do it...it looks like the whole graduating class of the Police Academy has been assigned to my neighborhood and that is NOT hyperbole.

Frankly, I'm a bit tired of them. Cops expect you to react to their mere presence (I will never forget my encounter with the now officially disbanded Street Crimes Unit). I am quite aware of them, just as I am any other street character but I pay about the same amount of attention to them and that seems to twist their nipples a bit. I suppose they're trying to do the community policing thing so they're staring at me in the hope of being friendly. They aren't giving people grief of any sort as far as I can see but that is because everyone responds as they expect them to...except me. When a knot of them are blocking the sidewalk I'll walk down the middle of the crowd rather than walking into the street to get around them. That sort of thing.

And I suppose it doesn't help that I'm noticeable. At 6'2", 195 lbs, 32" waist, wearing a Black leather coat that looks like I borrowed it from Neo (and at the moment an eczema flare-up on my face...) people usually check me out to see if I'm going to smack them. I have a walking stick because there's a little nerve damage in my feet due to diabetes (starting to see why I don't talk about me much?), and I always have my mp3 player kicking. The nerve damage doesn't interfere with my rhythm, so I tend to walk to the music. Hey, why have it with you if you're not going to enjoy it?

I give you the visual so maybe you can understand this better than I.

I'm heading for the bus stop and there's two cops, tall male-short female between me and said bus stop. As I walk, tall male crooks his finger at me. I frown and he says, yeah you. I shrug and walk over. He leans over to whisper something in my ear. I stop him and take off my headset.

He says "Sword canes are illegal in New York."

I say, "What?"

He says, "Yes, they're illegal. I don't know if you know that..."

I stop him and offer it to him, laying across my open palms. He says, "Oh, I don't want to check it, I'm not asking if that's what it is, I'm just letting you know. I noticed the metal band below the handle, and that how sword canes are connected."

Well, gee, that's how wooden handles are connected to the staff of the walking stick too.

I start to walk away and he says "I know because I have two of them."

I stop, walk up to him and say, "You have two of them. You. And they're illegal in New York. I find that hysterical." And I turn to walk off.

And as I'm walking he says "We can have them."

Now, that obviously didn't turn out as homie expected. But I wish I had slowed down to examine that "we." Because if "we" is he and I, they aren't illegal and he had no business discussing it with me. And if "we" doesn't include me it sounds an awful lot like he's saying cops can own illegal weapons because they're cops. And maybe he meant it's illegal to carry them but that's not what he said...He said "Sword canes are illegal in New York."

And the whole fucking thing is annoying.

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Submitted by allaboutgeorge on February 3, 2005 - 11:14pm.

Man, I'm sorry you had to go through that. I sure wish a cop had been around to hear that and arrest that two-sword-cane-ownin' overgrown boy in blue.

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Submitted by fullnelson (not verified) on February 4, 2005 - 2:22am.

As urban African Americans, we have be so conditioned to see cops--especially white cops--as the enemy, we rarely think of any other possibilities. I was the same way, until I found myself appointed to be one of three civilian police commissioners who oversee the functioning of the department. I could go on and on about the experience, but for purposes of this comment, I learned that most cops are just ordinary people. Some of them have been badly trained or have little street experience, and tend to overreact; others have so much experience, they think they've seen every situation before and always think they know what's coming next. Some of them know the law; others know just enough to talk shit (like Officer Friendly with the 2 sword canes). To my great relief, I also discovered there are lots of "good cops" who try to do a good job, i.e. to protect and to serve. But to us, they all get lumped into one pile.

Just for kicks, try introducing yourself or saying good morning to a cop who's working your neighborhood on a regular basis. You might find just another person who wants to do a good job, wants a peaceful shift, and wants to go home to their family at the end of the day. Just like most of us. Cops like knowing immediately where they stand with a stranger; if they know you, it's less likely they'll fuck with you just for the hell of it.

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Submitted by cnulan on February 4, 2005 - 2:54am.

Cops like knowing immediately where they stand with a stranger; if they know you, it's less likely they'll fuck with you just for the hell of it.

if they're really just ordinary joes who want to go home at the end of a peaceful workshift, chances are they'll nod and say good morning or good evening to you, too.

what happened to P6 would've had that roller (and his little non-intervening partner) knock, knock, knocking on heaven's door out here in this less civilized (more gun happy) neck of the American woods....,

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Submitted by Prometheus 6 on February 4, 2005 - 3:54am.

I don't see them as enemies unless they act stupid. Otherwise, I see them as there. I don't extend myself to them any more or less than anyone else I don't know.

I also saw an old white guy with his own walking stick. He asked me why I used one...seems he was newly diagnosed with something that scared him. We talked a while. I walk through knots of high school kids. Cops are just people with a job. I see no reason to treat them otherwise.

And it is not their job to be an asshole. It's not their job to intrude on my space for whatever reason.

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Submitted by Mr.Murder (not verified) on February 9, 2005 - 7:48am.

Sounds like a blues song, Old Scratch standing at the crossroads with his illegal walking cane. Ready to subvert law and order and sing dangerous music.

So when you meet the Devil at the crossraods what is it you say? Note how he is the same way, twice over no less.

And you didn't have to sell your soul to give him a piece of your mind p6. Proof you'll never be considered a 'good journalist'.

What would you need such a stick for? Surely you must be up to no good.

Well it isn't to stir my coffee... it's strong and black and great just like G*d made it...

(/snark) You disarmed the situation quite well. Crossroads was where the lines of ownership often would divide along old land borders. The boss who meets there takes folks to work their jobs on the land. Old Scratch was like a bad boss- a necessary evil and the kind of deal you had little choice at bad times but to take.

Truth as irony. Today's crossroads in real terms are such occurrences. From the daily and constant scenes the underlying dynamic is there. Don't sell your soul to the boss of the ownership society.

Tap that cane to a rhythmn. Resonate the tempo, the awareness. Make the mundane into the divine. Obeisance to the officious is a ceremony whose art is mastered by only a chosen few.

This person lacks such patience. Internal workings of this interaction are multifaceted. Such opportunities are part of an internal path one walks in this world. The ability to craft these occasions into a higher expression is part of the highest progression humans can achieve.
Warm, at times hot to the touch. Don't sell your soul to scratch, keep your head and the upper hand. There is a heat that simmers under those scenes, some thrive on it in its intimidation undertone.

The winners are beyond this vibe, unfazed.

As some have said, use this as your opportunity to win others over. Humor, snark, sharing the scene or moment. Each is part of the rich exchange that is life.
Thanks for sharing this site, this situation, this space with us.

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