Qui Custodes

Don't talk to the police

There's been a lot of conversation about whether or not to talk to the police when they ask you questions.  Know your rights and shut up.  If you think I'm wrong there is this famous video on UTube you should watch.  It makes my point better than anything I can think of.

Gates redux--contempt of cop

All I can say is that now people are beginning to see what I was writing about last week.  The Gates Affair wasn't race, it was a guy who thought he was able to lip off at a cop learning that cops don't like to be put down.  In any test of strenghth cops win. So prevent that from happening. 

What Gates should have done?  I dunno, I wasn't there. But one thing is clear:  the cop thought he was being given a hard time.  Don't do that.  I'm not saying that you should do whatever the cop tells you (Gates was smart to refuse to "step outside" I believe) but do it respectfully.  The cop has a gun. Say "sir", don't take a tone with him.  If you want the name & badge number, you are entitled to them but ask for them politely.  It's hard, I know but be polite.  Ms. Manners shows how to be polite but firm. Learn how. It can save you.

Police and Dr. Gates--there's something in the air

Most everyone by now has heard of the arrest in his home of Henry Louis Gates, the very prominent Harvard Professor who is African-American.   Some people say it's racism. Some say the cop was out of control.  Frankly, I'm not sure it's either of those things.

I think it's simple: a cop thought he was getting a lot of lip from a loudmouth.  So he decided to be a hardass.  On the street it's called "contempt of cop". It's punishable by beatings, hassle, and lies. Cops beat you, hassle you and then lie about it in court.  Problem was, this cop picked the wrong guy to hassle.

Now I don't know what actually happened.  But the apparently uncontroverted facts are that the cop a) walked into the house uninvited and b) demanded that Dr. Gates "step outside", and refused to give Dr. Gates his name and badge number.  Now the  first would upset me no end.  There is no right to invade my privacy and do a search of the premises.  Maybe I can make the case that the cop could follow Dr. Gates back to the house while Dr. Gates got his ID.  But maybe not too.  But the 2nd is offensive and I don't blame Dr. Gates for refusing to leave the safety of his home while armed police are there and hassling him.  Finally, a cop refusing to identify himself is *always* a problem and indicates to me that at that point the officer had decided to teach Dr. Gates a lesson.

BTW:  the police officer's written report is so completely different from Dr. Gates' statements that I have to wonder if they were even involved in the same city.

So what should *you* do?  Be respectful to the police.  Never raise your voice.  Always say "sir" and never, ever, ever talk to them.  If they insist on talking to you, never answer a question.  It will only get you in trouble.  The only thing you should ask a police officer is "am I under arrest?" and then leave if the answer is "no".  If the answer is that you *are* under arrest, shut up.

Finally, if the cop decides that you are being a smartass for not talking to him, there's nothing you can do.  Talking only makes it worse.  and get a lawyer.

Get behind him

Talking with a friend today about teaching our children how to drive.  I noted that nobody ever teaches 1 key thing that can save more lives than almost anything except wear your seatbelt. What is that thing?  It's simple really:  When you see a crazy driver or a drunk driver or whatever kind of driver Get Behind Them!  That way you can see what they are doing, they can't hit *you* and you can take evasive action.

Most people I know try to run away from these whackos.  Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. But get behind them and you're in good shape.

stop being so shy

Here's a story to make my point:  I was out last night with my 17 year-old daughter. We were visiting friends & watching the fights (she loves the fights & is a fighter herself).  My friends had their sons with them. So it was me, 4 adult men, my daughter and about 9 teenage boys.  Most of the boys were fine but 1 of them wouldn't leave her alone.  He kept putting hands on her. Finally she leaned over & told me she would clock him if he kept it up. I told her "go ahead".  So she did.  An Elbow to the kidney.  Hard.  So he left her alone. 

Now, the moral, ladies, girls, boys and gents is actually simple:  you have the right to defend yourself and you don't have to be shy about it.  In fact, being shy about defending yourself is an invitation to being hassled. So, learn from this story.  If you are being bothered, touched, aggressed against, Do Something About It.  Stand up for yourselves.  Only YOU are entitled to decide what's too much. 

Another cop goes nuts

You all thought I was wrong when I complained that some cops are absolutely out of control?  Then check out this story about a poor guy who just got on the wrong side of an arrogant cop.  You know how I know? 

1)  the charges were dropped (and they wouldn't have dropped the charges if at all possible since the charges would functionally immunize the police dep't from the inevitable lawsuit0 and

2)  the cop's own words "“I got within 10 feet, and he continued to not want to listen to my words,” Chancellor said during Ladou's preliminary hearing. “He did not want to come talk to me. ..." Funny thing about that--you don't have to talk to a cop if you don't want to.  They can't stop you except for a short frisk for safety (and sometimes to create a pretext) and they can't seize you and make you do anything unless you are under arrest.  And for that they need probably cause. 

Dumb cop, they deserve what they get.

The Hitman Scam

I don't like to call attention to these things but there's a "new" scam out there that is causing people some grief.  What happens is they get an email or a note or something telling them that a contract to kill them has been placed but the hitman has a conscience.  So if they will just pay off the hitman, the contract will be canceled.  This is nonsense and absurd and illogical.  Think about it.  So the hit man refuses to act.  Is the person who put out the contract going to be dissuaded?  No.  Would the hitman take the chance that the person issuing the contract will want revenge on the hitman?  No. Is there such a thing as a professional hitman who has such a tender conscience?  No.

If someone pulls this stunt on you, call the police. It's extortion.  If you doubt me, the FBI knows about this and gives advice.   Bottom line--don't fall for it.

I still* hate earphones & other electrical distractions

I'm reading the Washington Post this a.m. and notice, in the Metro section, that crimes on our subway system are up.  No kidding?  Apparently the crimes are "crimes of opportunity".  In other words, it's all your fault.  Yep, you should put away those delightful Ipods, and Itouches and Iphones and other cute little (expensive) electronic devices.  Otherwise some yobbo will just be overcome by the temptation and walk up to you and grab it away from you. 

Now I don't know what or who upsets me the most.  First, you are supposed to be paying attention to your environment so this doesn't happen.  But I understand being distracted.  God knows it happens to me when I'm emailing or texting or whatever.  Still, try to "check your 6" more often.  But second, it's a "crime of opportunity"????  What?!!!  So just whose fault is it now?  One day some yobbo is gonna pick the wrong person to "opportunize" and pay for it.  Then what happens?  I bet we can all guess. 

Check your "6"

If you drew a clock around you, the "12" would be straight ahead, the "3" directly to your right, the "9" directly to your left and the "6" directly behind you.  Always check your "6".  That means look behind you.  We had a case recently near by where a couple were killed while walking on a park path.  No idea why--looked like a thrill kill.  What's significant is that they were hit from behind, knocked down and beaten to death.  Now, I don't know that seeing the attack coming would have done them a bit of good.  But it might have.  Additionally, if you are alert, attackers may choose to find some other victim. 

So always check your "6" and stay alert.

"Rape Whistles" (cont. from Oct. 30)

Back in October I posted about why I'm not a fan of "rape whistles".  Someone pointed out to me that you don't have to carry the whistle on your key chain.  You could carry it on a necklace or bracelet for example.  Well, you still have the problem of getting the whistle to your lips and having the ability to blow the whistle while being threatened or attacked.  Carrying the whistle on a necklace wouldn't work for me.  In cold weather it would be under your coat so you couldn't get it.  In warm weather it would be accessible, but you still would have to get it into your hand, etc. etc. 

I suppose you could carry the whistle on a bracelet/in your hand as you walked the street but then you would have 1 hand for your purse and/or briefcase, one hand to open doors  etc. and 1 hand for the whistle.  Exactly how many free hands do you have?  OK. Wear the whistle on your wrist as a bracelet.  That solves part of the problem.  How are you going to solve the other problems?  I don't have a solution.

Don't get me wrong though:  A rape whistle is better than nothing but I don't think much of them.