Cop Corner with S/Sgt Luis Gandolfi

Respect

If I had a dollar for every time someone threatened to sick their lawyer on me or file a complaint about me, I’d have left policing years ago and would be running a charter fishing business somewhere on Vancouver Island.  There’s a lot of moving parts to policing and it can be a dirty business.  Sometimes these conflicts are our own doing when we step inside someone’s emotional elevator and follow them all the way to the top before realizing where we are.

That being said, we’ve all been witness to the antics of “That Guy” that invariably finds himself at odds with the police outside the bar on a Friday or Saturday night.  He or she is usually very drunk, in many cases having already been ejected from the bar and standing outside in a crowd ramping up the energy.  To that individual I can offer this advice and it’s not at all complicated.  In fact my advice isn’t even complex enough to form a sentence…it’s only one word and it starts with a C and ends with an E.  Any guesses?

Co-operate.  That’s it, pretty simple isn’t it?  You’d think so but…

Unless you have a warrant that word all but guarantee that you’ll make it home feeling good about your interactions with the police that night.  The reality is that you’re probably intoxicated and in a public place which means you’re in violation of Provincial legislation and, like it or not, we’re holding all the cards.  Balking at us when we ask for ID, pulling out your law society membership card, or swearing at the top of your lungs can quickly get you on the train departing for Regretville at 0300.

So, my advice is to just be cool and let us do the job that we’re expected and paid to do.  I have faith that our members are good hearted and well meaning people and unless you’re selling drugs to our kids or driving around town at twice the legal limit, I don’t see them targeting you or getting in your face to try and make your life complicated.

Help us do our jobs by keeping a level head and co-operating with your officers.  They will appreciate it and will show you that same respect in return.  Stay safe.

*Cop Corner is written & provided by S/Sgt Luis Gandolfi of the Bonnyville RCMP Detachment. It has not been altered from the author’s original content.