A Good Cop / Bad Cop Story

The police chief in our little town seems like a good guy. For example, there was a story in the town paper today about someone who clearly wanted to commit suicide by cop. He was drunk, had a gun, and fired the gun while his wife (girlfriend?) and two children were in the house. Every cop in the area responded (including the chief, who was off duty, and some off-duty cops). Because the chief had a prior relationship with the shooter, he talked him down, and the shooter is alive today. He’ll almost certainly spend a long stretch in the state penitentiary, but at least he won’t be spending an even longer stretch in the cemetery.

My family has some history with this chief. Dad’s is a pretty trusting guy, and so is my brother, who lives with him except for the summers (he’s a teacher on the reservation). The house doors are usually unlocked. A couple of years ago, a young Native American former student of my brother, who was doing some yard work for them, stole dad’s checkbook and wrote some bad checks. That kid is now in the state pen, in part because the state’s attorney was enraged that the kid did that and threw the book at him. (Dad and my brother send him money there, by the way.). When the checkbook was recovered, the chief personally returned it, and apologized to my dad. I guess he felt responsible for a crime occurring on his watch.

From what I can tell, the chief pretty much the epitome of a decent small-town cop. Andy Griffith in Mayberry, if you will. I think he’s in his mid-50s, if not older. Other family members have had dealings with him, and they all think he’s a fair-minded guy.

Last year, I was talking to a long-time family friend, and he told me a disturbing story. There’s a notorious street at the edge of town where cars always drive too fast. One day, a child walked out between cars parked on the side of the road and was hit. Our family friend witnessed it, and stopped to help. The child’s father saw the accident and was understandably upset. He took out his fear and frustration on the first responding police officer, asking about when the ambulance would come and other understandable questions. Our family friend, who is 6’ 3” and probably 250 pounds, had to almost restrain that police officer, who was more concerned about the father’s response than tending to the child. Our friend, with much effort, was able to re-direct the officer to do his fucking job.

So I think policing in this town is going to get worse once the chief retires, because the new breed of cop only cares about compliance, rather than justice.