cops vs. cops

 

 

July 30, 2009

 i was about to cross a street yesterday morning when i witnessed an exchange of words between two cops. it was an encounter i should say synonymous to phenomenon, rarely would you see a traffic police reprimanding a fellow police for violating a simple traffic rule. it was amusing that the attention some fellow pedestrians gave was one reserved for witnessing once in a lifetime occurrence. the “traffic officer” (both were cops but just to set one from the other) was in white gala long sleeves and brown pants which was a common police uniform and the other one was donning a blue  long sleeved shirt with bold prints pronouncing his being cop, this paired with pants of the same color. the violation was a simple walking outside the designated traffic fense, fenses which in some areas clearly delineate, arrowed instructions included, areas where homo sapiens ought to stay. the officer would have just let it slide had the offender been a civilian. with terse reminder or even curt advice, he would surely have just easily let it pass. but not with this fellow cocky police, definitely one of the things that set the officer off too. it was obvious that the offender hadn’t seen it  coming, he was surprised his fellow cop didn’t recognize the impunity that came with the uniform, one of the damn illusions some abusive cops had. the officer quickly called the attention of the offender, not employing his dangling whistle but a one similarly effective and rather  rude psssst (whatever the hell the english term for it). condescendingly, he pointed out the other one’s violation, perhaps with pinch of satisfaction, emphasizing the offender’s being ignorant of simple traffic rules that even civilians, fingers pointed  to us, were obeying. that was one hell of a virtual slap in the face. a cop reprimanding a fellow cop like a kid chastised for playing outside the yard, all in front of mix amused and surprised pedestrians. not every day you’d see such scene. the mere fact that the crowd, including me, were astounded was itself disturbing. meaning, what happened, unusual as it may seem, was but proper. cops ought to uphold the law and ensure that no one was above it, not even fellow cops. on the other hand, people in uniform were supposed to follow state laws, decrees, regulations including rules as negligible, and to some, insignificant as traffic rules. and i was referring to all people in uniforms including MMDA personnel who were so used to riding with their badges or rather sashes, funny ones, for fair exemption. now, if only the system worked that way where cops sought after the welfare of citizens making sure laws were observed and reprimanding anyone violating it regardless of status, of worn uniform or of position held. ever seen a traffic officer reproaching a congressman, a legislator who’s writing and enacting laws, for a simple traffic violation? hell of a scene it would surely create.