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A true story, sad situation, but true
For all those who don't know me
I am a retired Police Officer
from the city of New York, The Big Apple, La cream de La Cream, City Of all cities, If it happened here, It can happen anywhere, I am presently disable
depending totally on my cane, and I don't mean "COKE" (a joke).
So there I was, Staying at the Staten Island Hotel, why?, because my wife just went through a knee surgical procedure, by some of the best doctors in the east coast, last year we moved out of town, so I figured she can recover at a hotel, rather then stay with family, we hate imposing on others, I left my lovely wife, waiting for me at our room, As I left to buy a few snacks, I kissed her, whispered in her ear a soft loving croon, smiling as I exit the room, slowly closing the door, saying see you soon.
I stopped at a local super market, that is opened late, Approximately 18"
Of pure white snow, covered the cold streets of New York, so I drove the one block, I purchased whatever snack we desired and agreed upon, Exiting the parking lot, I slowly came to a stop, at a red traffic signal, icy conditions caused me, to stop closer to the curb.
An RMP (Radio Motor Patrol), was parked at the curb, to my left side, I knew he was there, I saw him as plain as day light,
The Police Officer on the driving side,
Was waring an Emergency Service Unit Patch, he send a chill up and down my spine with a look, that saw no further then my racial origin.
I'll lie not to you, I too shot a stare of equal caliber, right back towards his direction, sending a message, "I'll not be intimidated," I observed him on my side mirror, As he entered the shopping center's parking lot, Making A u-turn, now I knew where he was coming from.
The traffic light turned green, I made a right turn, Onto Richmond Ave., Towards my hotel of choice, Which was only a block away, I made another right turn, into the hotel, as I expected, The Patrol car also made a right turn, into the hotel, stopping behind me, waiting for me to park my vehicle at a designated disable parking space.
I had placed my groceries in my truck,
As I walked towards the rear of my car,
the police officer behind the wheel, pointed his left hand at me, wiggling his index finger, back and forth, indicating he wanted my attention, As I walked towards him, He opened his window, uttering whithout a good evening, a sir, an excuse me, nor anything pleasant, just blurred out, "Why did you stop at the curb, for the red light?" I replied are you not supposed to stop for a red light?
Yeah, he said, you stopped at the curb,
My answer, was that I skidded on ice,
answering his questions, he now demanded to know, why I wasn't waring my seat belt.
I recognized his line of questioning, was getting a bit ugly, so I asked him if he wanted to see my ID, pointing to my right rear trouser pocket, I pull out my ID holder, ready to show him my
license, registration, insurance ID and my retired Police ID, not that I was trying to weasel out of any summons, there were no known violations, to be issued a summons, in the first place, he yelled Yeah! let me see your Id, who the hell are you?
Now he was beginning to know where I was coming from, when I offered him my ID, I told him I was a retired police officer, his line of questioning changed.
Now he was curious to know why I disrespected him?
Why I didn't refer to him as a police officer?
Tic for Tack
I responded, you started this conversation.
So now it was my turn to lecture, I started to lecture him, on the ways some situation were handled in the old days, with arrogance, he dismissed me with a wave of his left hand, uttering I don't have to listen to your shit, I replied, nor I yours, he disappeared into the dark cold night, just as myterious as he appeared, Like a vampire, running away from a holy cross.
He left me baffled standing in the ice cold parking lot, with a bad taste in my mouth and a tear at the corner of my eyes,
Asking myself, how can a minor non-criminal infraction get so ugly, as my wife waited for me at our hotel room, to return.
This whole nightmare, made me wonder, What if I was not a retired police officer, how far would this situation, have gone,
What could have happened to me? because one police officer, lurking in a cold miserable night, couldn't see past my racial origin.
By: William Bonilla
01/27/05
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