My attitude towards Police

In the summer of 2000 I was 24 years old and living in San Clemente, CA. There's this bar Knuckleheads that we would walk to down the street from our apartment. We were on our way back from the bar and it was my wife, her best friend Heidi and myself. We were walking down Florencia street and a cop car pulled in front of us and they turned their lights on. Only one cop got out of the car and he shined his light in my face and ordered me over to his car. He asked me what I threw in the bushes and whether he had arrested me before. He asked me if he could search me with what I felt was a rude attitude towards me. After searching me and finding nothing he turned around and got in his car without saying anything besides rude things to me. I approached his car and told him that I had never felt so disrespected. He said "awe did I hurt your feelings, are you gonna cry?". Then he drove away.

For a long time I assumed all of those San Clemente cops were the same way. Even though his partner never got out of the car and even covered his face with his hand like he was embarrassed. Kind of like he wanted nothing to do with his partners actions. I truly believe for every one of those cops with a bad attitude or having a bad day, there are many more that make a positive difference in peoples lives. There are many that risk their lives and act in an honorable selfless manner. Individuals who wake up in the morning and lace up their boots and go to work. Working to try and prevent harm on all of our loved ones. To protect and serve our communities. Working countless hours each day in under staffed departments while patrolling streets among citizens that in large numbers don't like them. A few bad ones give many of the good ones a negative image.

My example of a police encounter was one of the extreme situations with police I've encountered. Another involves a court room, and a judge threatening to hold me in contempt but that's another story. Since I have changed my attitude towards police my experiences have changed completely. Even getting out of a possible DUI in Sanford, FL because I was respectful. Putting myself in a situation to possibly get a DUI is another story and not smart at all.

I look back at the experience on Florencia in San Clemente and I probably didn't handle it correctly. I definitely didn't get the response i had hoped for from the cop. I look back and laugh cause thinking of it now i should have laughed. My feelings were hurt. I should have just moved on. Instead I let my emotions get a hold of me. If i really had a problem i should have submitted a complaint. Then maybe others would complain about the same thing and he'll be forced to change hopefully. I'm not saying people should allow police to bully. I'm only trying to say brush some things off and not stereotype one cop because of others.