Law Enforcement was Worried

[nera at rconnect.com]

> I wouldn't worry.
> My dad's in law enforcement, so I grew up around this stuff.  Would 
you rather the cops be there, or not be there?  Whatever they're 
there for, they'll get it done and get gone, that's what they've been 
trained to do.  
> Abbie, who used to get yelled at in high school because her dad was 
one of "them", and is a tad sensitive on this topic
***************
So much of the opinions about policemen, like those of prejudice of 
any sort, start with the parents' attitudes being passed down to the 
children. I remember being shocked at my mother-in-law threatening my 
children with, "If you don't behave, I will call a policeman and have 
him put you in jail." I told my children that Gramma would do no such 
thing. I informed Gramma that I did not want my children to grow up 
being afraid of or hating the police. Then, I took my children, ages 
3 & 5, btw, down to the police station, explained the situation to 
the officer on duty. He took them for a tour of the radio room, the 
squad car,including blowing the siren and flashing the lights. He 
gave them stick on badges and Officer Friendly coloring books. I find 
the best way to combat prejudice is to face it head-on.

We have a great local cop, who has a terrific sense of humor. He had 
noticed the teenage boys driving by, slouched low in their seats, 
with their sunglasses on and radios blasting, in an attempt to 
look, "cool". A little while later, they were all parked and hanging 
out at the drive-thru restaurant. Who should they see driving by, but 
this same officer, slouched low in his seat, with his arms stretched 
out on the steering wheel, complete with sunglasses and radio 
blasting. The kids LOVED it! 

Doreen, just rambling about stuff