Officer Survival

If you follow this blog, you know, I never was a cop.  Not for lack of desire, trying or education.
So it really bugs me when I see *******’s Finest, whom my tax dollars helped train, acting as if they want to die.
Back when I was on supervisory patrol for B***’s Security (radiotelephone in the car, and everything!) my job was to inspect the various guard posts, looking to make certain our guards were awake, doing their jobs, and alert.  Or, at least present and awake.  Or present.
And, it was understood, if we saw a guard from another company, or the police, in some-kind of jeopardy, we were to assist.  It was just common courtesy, and everyone wasn’t suing everyone else, then.
(The four most common words in a police report, class?) While on routine patrol, I spotted a city patrol car, parked by the side of the street, downtown, at the edge of the Deuce (see a previous post).  There seemed to be an officer in the front seat, and his dome light was on.  His head was leaned forward.
This is not a nice area and it was 0230.  I drove passed him, and he didn’t move or look up.
I did a U-turn with my Ford Maverick (yikes!) and pulled up behind the patrol car, keeping a safe-distance back.
WTF?  Is this guy asleep, dead?  He’d not moved an inch.  I called the guard company answering service on the carphone, told them of my location, and that I was checking on this officer’s status.
I did a slow, cautious approach on the car, as if there was a felon crouching on the passenger side.  Hand on my revolver, flashlight at the ready.
And I shined my $30 Kel-lite in the driver’s window.
The cop looks up and says, “Hi!  I’m just finishing some reports.”
Suppressing my anger, I told him of my concerns.  He said he was okay (and didn’t even thank me!)
I returned to the car, called the office, and advised them all was ‘okay’.
I wasn’t!
Things have not improved in the subsequent 30-odd years.  I can’t tell you of the number of times I’ve seen officers doing car approaches, paying no attention to the occupant(s) of the car, or the surroundings.  And, even standing directly left of the driver, leaning both forearms on the roof!  Talk about asking for it! 
I know I’ll probably catch some flack from good officers proclaiming they would never do that.  I certainly hope not.
They’re my tax dollars, but it’s your ass!