My “encounters” with Cops

If you are a brave person, you have an innate sense of fear with police, then imagine the plight of a person fearful about everything. I was that person and this is my story with the cops. Sentences such as why should a law-abiding citizen be fearful about cops, all ring a bell, but still, the majority percentage of the population both here and through the world have a lurking fear in them. It is engineered that way, and it shall be that way. The above poster was chosen for my love for movies and more so cop movies.

My first incident was when I applied for my passport while in college. You are overexcited and dream about being placed in MNC’s which send you abroad immediately. You want to have the passport ready, lest you miss the travel date due to that. Only being in an IT company, do you know that even having a valid visa and confirmed travel ticket, things could wrong, and they will before you set foot in your foreign destination. A police constable came to my house for verification, and since this was my home and parents at large, my fear was at the lowest. With all customary questions completed, I heaved a sigh of relief, the first incident being a lucky charm.

This first incident fueled my courage and became a boomerang of sorts for myself. I was coming from a badminton game and had parked my bike opposite a xerox shop. It was a major road, but there were no parking signs on it. Little did I know that my vehicle is going to be towed away shortly. It was a new bike, honda shine, shining new with paint. Tow vehicle and my bike had been chained already, pleaded with the sergeant. Current slang “bro” used to be “Anna” then, I used the curse word on the police. He became damn angry, am I brother to you, call me “Sir”. Reality check # 1. My badminton racquet was inspected, asked for the price, how do you play shorts, usual questions that happen to irritate you, and entertain them. I answered all of them patiently. Fine was asked, and it was not fine, I did not have money with me, then called my dad to bring it. Vehicle was almost to be towed, that a constable answered my plead calls, and released my bike. It was a gory incident, my bike escaped unhurt, but my ego hurt.

The second one was when I was returning after an interview from Bangalore. It was past midnight, and my bus reached Chennai only at 1 AM, it was no ola/uber days and no autos to play at that time of the night. I started walking, but only after I had made the call to my dad for him to pick me up. I started walking to save me time, and save my dad, the distance. I had almost reached home, when I was stopped by two of the beat cops. They were angry of having to stay late, stay awake, in the middle of the street, with only two for the company. It was the days of no smartphone, no amazon prime video on demand. They started asking me questions, where am I headed, what do you do, what are computers, how do they work, it was so irritating and I knew that I am the ball in their soccer pitch now. Questions ranged from absurdity to stupidity, but all had to be answered with sanity and dignity. It stretched for more than twenty minutes and I was saved by my dad, and I did not have a good night's sleep.

This was a clean jerk one, a speeding car, stopped by the traffic cops, asked to pay the fine, paid, given the receipt, voila am done. I answered the reason for the speed, and they explained the need for the fine, legal was it, and since I was the rule breaker, paid for it, and the only satisfying encounter completed.

Another time was for passport renewal, and request had been forwarded to the local police station. I was told it would be completed, but I wanted to test my newfound courage, went straight to the local police station. I did not know whom to ask for, and there were criminals interrogated and common folks in a zone of constant fear. I had my printouts handy, was asked to proceed to the control room. Made to sit, courteously, but believe me, fear was running through my veins. Inspector told that the check would be done at your home, no need to come over here, but I believe most of them are constantly working, and need common folks for conversational sake. They struck a conversation about new passport Kendra and their speedy process. This time I was more confident than the previous encounters combined.

I had been 6 years in the USA and have had 3 incidents with the police and all of them have been pretty awesome.

1. group of friends returning from a trip, confused with the GPS navigation, ended up taking the wrong direction, and he pulled us over to check for drunken driving. we told him the truth about our loss of directions, and he navigated us rightly-PROFESSIONALISM LEVEL-100
2. my car totaled in a car accident when taking a yield(this is where most of the accidents in America happen), a cop was polite enough to understand my plight, gave me shelter in his car since it was damn cold in Dallas and I did not have any hoodie to protect me on-KINDNESS LEVEL-100
3. pulled over speeding in a residential neighborhood for 45mph in 35mph zone, did not have latest insurance papers, fumbling over with old one, tried to get one in my mobile phone, my data was not working quickly, thanks to my service provider, he lost his patience, I tried to be cool with him, but he was outright professional which is good, he was able to check my updated insurance, gave me a speeding violation and was let go. PATIENCE LEVEL-100

all the incidents were professional, courteous, thanks to all the officers in uniform, never have I had to break a sweat during my interactions with them.

I sincerely hope and pray that these incidents remain at the same count, and this medium article would be never needing any refresh.