I was rapping up a 5k jog around 12:30am.  Midnight jogging is an experience, and I completely recommend it.   Nearing the end of the jog, some flashing lights were visible at a distance.  The lights flashed red and blue; red and blue.  Cars passing by seemed completely oblivious of the lights.  I was hesitant to approach, though drawn at the same time.  Arriving on the scene noted a tall dark haired officer coming away from the “bad guy” vehicle.

Offering a glove covered hand out I shook hands and introduced myself.   I attempted to get some of the story from the people in trouble; “no comment” was the case there.  Officer Anon as he will be known; was more willing to be interviewed.

It started off with some feedback on my domineer; he stated I was somewhat aggressive, I’ll admit I had a great run and was very pumped up.  After that issue was resolved Officer Anon actually started telling me that citizens should ask questions.

He asked if I had any negative experiences with the officers, to which I replied “yes, a few actually.”  In my younger days I was a foster child.  If you have experienced this way of life, you would know what I’m talking about.  We continued to talk; the conversation went onto the ideas of perception.

Officer Anon went on to say the kind of day he was having where people would block him in his attempts to help and generally receive feedback of the negative form.  I followed that line of thinking with a question.  “Would you have taken me as aggressive had you not had that kind of day?” He paused and thought for a moment, and said “maybe not.”

What about a unified force, I said combine police, paramedics, and firefighters all working together?  Officer Anon said it would be too much distraction, firefighters are there to save lives and put out fires in a none judgmental way.   Though he did admit “I do know a few firefighters.”  He paused and thought about it.  I said what if the role of the police was different, more of an observer in the entry stages of an event.  Again he paused and thought about it.  He retorted “having some paramedics on hand would be useful.”

A silent laugh in my head roared loudly, as basically he said the idea would not work and slowly explained how it could.  People always intrigue me, the way we can answer our own questions and miss the fact we answered it.  We went on to talk about the perception and the laws.

Officer Anon offered the idea that people have an expectation of protection and nothing else.    I agreed, as I have seen that.  We all want a cop when were getting robbed or hurt, though we do not greet them with a smile as we get a ticket, or get taken in.  The question I hit him with was “who should have to right to decide what is right and what is wrong in our lives?”  He gave me the look, the “are you recording this?” look; I said I would make no mention of him by name.  

Officer Anon continued, saying that we all have a duty as active citizens to decide how things go.  He made mention that police should not be called in for things such as noise complaints.  Which I agree with, do we really need to use this human resource to get someone to go next door and force someone else to be quiet?  There is a much easier way to deal with this.   Simply, we can train ourselves not to be sensitive to noise.  Don’t believe me?

Here is an easy exercise and it will not cost you a dime.  Close your eyes, and listen, try to listen to everything al l at once.  Do this for 5-15 minutes a day, you’ll notice that noises have lost there irritation levels.  Throw in a breathing exercise and now you’re meditating, you can do this anywhere as long as you are safe to close your eyes.  Play with it, one less thing to trouble you in your life.

The interview continued with the concept of being part of the system.  Officer Anon said he felt at times as if he was being lead by unseen forces, and was aware of it.  I asked if he ever visited websites such as wikileaks.org, he said he had not.  I would suggest this site, for anyone looking for some information, that the leaked sources do not wish you to read.

At the end of the interview, I complemented him for being approachable and transparent.  I said I asked how many officers he felt were just like him; he said more as time goes on.  It is nice to see that police officers are just people after all.  In the course to making this city a better place to live, its important to remember all the people are simply people, regardless of there job.  Through co-operation, we can all have the lives we want in the way we want them.
He closed with a quote, a very nice one.  “If the only tool in your tool box is a hammer you’ll always be pounding nails.” – Officer Anon

Have a great day.
Allan Strange