Watching a program about how some black people have been stopped by police. As they are saying they are respectful and cooperative. People often talk about profiling and think it is a racial thing. Shirley and I have been profiled and stopped by police. My Dad and relatives have been profiled by the police when I was a child. A dear friend of ours in California was profiled and he and his infant daughter were stopped with guns drawn and police ready to shoot. Our friend Gary was a member of the Sunnyvale church of Christ. He was a deacon. Gary worked as a maintenance man at the Marriott hotel. He had also been in the maintenance of Great America and when it was sold by Marriott he stayed with the hotel for the benefits and retirement. Gary was a cowboy in every aspect. He had all of the skills that any farmer or cowboy required, mechanic, welder, horse handler. Gary dressed like a cowboy, Levis, boots, John Deer cap. He drove a beat up old pickup on which he had a bumper sticker, Cowboy Cadillac. Gary knew a lot of police officers and highway patrol guys. He and his wife had horses at the same time we had horses. He did work for the people at the ranch where they kept theirs and for other patrons of that ranch. One morning he was driving on the freeway in the North end of San Jose with his young daughter in the car. All of a sudden police cars came racing up to his truck and cut him off and trapped his truck. The police were out with their guns drawn and ordered him to get out of the truck and on the ground. Gary complied immediately. He told his daughter to stay put and stay calm. It was quite frightening. They went over and were quite rough and restrained him. Things were moving along and a CHP officer pulled up and got out and told them to leave him alone. He had heard the APB that had led to this and told these guys that Gary was his friend and he was not the person they were looking for. There had been an APB for someone who had been involved in a shootout and fit Garys description and a truck of the same description. The arresting officers apologized and helped Gary get back in to his truck. They said they were glad that he complied and did not resist. They said they might have over reacted. Gary said that he appreciated the job they did and that he understood everything they had done. He did not take exception and become indignant. He told them he had many friends in law enforcement and knew the risks they took.
Posted on: Sat, 23 Aug 2014 02:51:31 +0000
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