On our way home last night a driver came down the hill where it switches from 50 to 35. A Washington State Trooper some distance in front of me whipped around and seeing him turn, I pulled to a side street. The officer blew past with no emergency lights at about 70mph in the 35, rushing to protect and serve after a man who was doing about 10mph over. I pulled out and followed, finding the officer with the man stopped, I pulled in behind him and we turned two cameras on. He came to to window to ask what I needed and I directly challenged his actions, asking how fast he was going and why. Officer Slemp declined to answer, excusing himself because he was after the speeder. I asked how fast the man was going and he crisply replied thats none of your business I looked him in the eye and firmly replied DO NOT talk down to me, you work for me. A firm reply like this also helps the stage. The officers suddenly knows that they do not have the high ground and we are not afraid of them. Within minutes there were 3 additional Troopers on scene. One in front, two behind me. When the stop was done they left their lights on, their cars sticking into the road as if waiting me out. They did not engage, but looked around my car for something to get me on, running my plates and checking tabs. They looked at my tabs and I heard one officer suggesting they were expired even though they were not. I waited them out. When they pulled away I followed right behind. Within 2 minutes Slemp stopped a slow moving vehicle in front of us. I pulled in behind. Soon more officers were driving in, parking across the street and coming up to confer, including Ephrata PD who. They walked the car, not even looking me in the eye, but if they walk past my eyes slowly follow them, the camera on them. And they know it. That little posse was all worked up. All because a someone was watching them and asking for accountability. I leaned out the window and asked in a friendly tone Hey slim, was this one going too slow? The fact that they dont like being watched shows we need to do it more. If they know our eyes are always on them, if they know we dont back down, if they know that we know our rights, the game changes. Its just a small action. Some might think its petty. -- But theres a far bigger picture. This is something we can all do. If we observe public officials and call them out when they act questionably, removing them from office when needed, we make them servants once again. Start with simple, principled stands that always let them know that THEY are the servants and that WE their masters, are watching. -- Gav
Posted on: Thu, 04 Sep 2014 19:53:40 +0000
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