# A Cop and His Epic Failure **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 4, 2012, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-cop-and-his-epic-failure/608398 "2012-01-04T17:55:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![brittekland](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/aeb1de/32.png) [@brittekland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brittekland)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2012, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-cop-and-his-epic-failure/608398/1 "2012-01-04T17:55:57Z")
[A cop gets sued after asking a woman out for a date.](http://www.suntimes.com/9800883-417/suit-cop-sought-date-after-giving-woman-132-ticket.html) The problem is that this is after he gave her a speeding ticket. Mahbe he’s an honest cop and had to give her the ticket and that’s besides the point…? A great side job for a stalker. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2012, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-cop-and-his-epic-failure/608398/2 "2012-01-04T18:00:29Z")
It was wrong for him to contact her, but were there not alternatives to filing a suit against him? Like she could have filed a complaint with the police department or informally mentioned it to someone there. Although perhaps she was concerned about retaliation. ---
**Author:** ![brittekland](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/aeb1de/32.png) [@brittekland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brittekland)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2012, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-cop-and-his-epic-failure/608398/3 "2012-01-04T18:09:07Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > It was wrong for him to contact her, but were there not alternatives to filing a suit against him? Like she could have filed a complaint with the police department or informally mentioned it to someone there. Although perhaps she was concerned about retaliation. She did. She supposedly left voice mails to the chief of police and the mayor but no one responded… so she’s suing them too. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2012, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-cop-and-his-epic-failure/608398/4 "2012-01-04T18:11:42Z")
> [@brittekland](#): > > [A cop gets sued after asking a woman out for a date.](http://www.suntimes.com/9800883-417/suit-cop-sought-date-after-giving-woman-132-ticket.html) The problem is that this is after he gave her a speeding ticket. > > Mahbe he’s an honest cop and had to give her the ticket and that’s besides the point…? A great side job for a stalker. Let’s go to the quarry and throw stuff down here! > [@](#): > > Evangelina Paredes accuses Stickney cop Chris Collins of violating her privacy by searching motor-vehicle records for her address, then leaving a handwritten note on her car windshield outside her apartment two days after she was ticketed. > > A copy of the alleged note was attached to the lawsuit, filed last week in U.S. District Court in Chicago. It starts with an attempt at self-deprecating humor, saying, “It’s Chris . . . that ugly bald Stickney cop who gave you that ticket.” > > “I know this may seem crazy and you’re probably right, but truth is I have not stopped thinking about you since,” it continued. “I don’t expect a girl as attractive as you to . . . even go for a guy like me, but I’m taking a shot anyways.” > > The note goes on to say he would understand if Paredes did not get in touch. > “But hey,” it continued apologetically, “I did cost you $132 — least I can do is buy you dinner.” Aye, that’s creepy and arguably stalking. ---
**Author:** ![picunurse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@picunurse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picunurse)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2012, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-cop-and-his-epic-failure/608398/5 "2012-01-04T18:16:45Z")
> [@brittekland](#): > > She did. > > She supposedly left voice mails to the chief of police and the mayor but no one responded… so she’s suing them too. I think you misread that. The reporter left meassages for the police cheif and mayor. I don’t think this is a rare occurrence. I’ve had the same type of thing happen twice. Once after an accident and once when my car was broken into. Different cops, different cities. ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2012, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-cop-and-his-epic-failure/608398/6 "2012-01-04T18:17:18Z")
I dunno, I thought that note was kind of charming. ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2012, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-cop-and-his-epic-failure/608398/7 "2012-01-04T18:28:05Z")
> [@YogSosoth](#): > > I dunno, I thought that note was kind of charming. Just goes to show that stalking is only endearing and adorable in John Cusack movies. Or when the guy is hot. ---
**Author:** ![AndyLee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/898d66/32.png) [@AndyLee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AndyLee)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2012, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-cop-and-his-epic-failure/608398/8 "2012-01-04T18:31:05Z")
I don’t see this is very different from corporation policy. My last job I had, it was clearly stated, we were not to date, vendors, clients or customers of the company. It just makes good business sense. ---
**Author:** ![brittekland](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/aeb1de/32.png) [@brittekland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brittekland)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2012, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-cop-and-his-epic-failure/608398/9 "2012-01-04T18:37:49Z")
> [@picunurse](#): > > I think you misread that. The reporter left meassages for the police cheif and mayor. I swear I read somewhere that she did… (NOT). 🙂 I stand corrected that the articles doesn’t say “she” did, but unclear as to who left the message to the chief. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2012, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-cop-and-his-epic-failure/608398/10 "2012-01-04T18:56:56Z")
_To Protect, Serve and Stalk if you’re a hot chick._ “Ms. Paredes, is it true that, on the day in question, you were wearing Windsong?” ---
**Author:** ![Earthworm\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f07891/32.png) [@Earthworm\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earthworm_Jim)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2012, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-cop-and-his-epic-failure/608398/11 "2012-01-04T20:12:52Z")
> [@brittekland](#): > > A great side job for a stalker. I’m so sick of this “OMG - A MALE TALKED TO A FEMALE!!! STALKER!!!” meme. That is all. ---
**Author:** ![Dallas\_Jones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dallas_jones/32/3277_2.png) [@Dallas\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dallas_Jones)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2012, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-cop-and-his-epic-failure/608398/12 "2012-01-04T20:22:15Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > Let’s go to the quarry and throw stuff down here! The quarry is going to get full if we keep going there and throwing things down. We will end up going to the mountain and throwing stuff up. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2012, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-cop-and-his-epic-failure/608398/13 "2012-01-04T20:23:49Z")
> [@Earthworm\_Jim](#): > > I’m so sick of this “OMG - A MALE TALKED TO A FEMALE!!! STALKER!!!” meme. Sounds like something a stalker would say. ---
**Author:** ![brittekland](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/aeb1de/32.png) [@brittekland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brittekland)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2012, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-cop-and-his-epic-failure/608398/14 "2012-01-04T20:29:15Z")
> [@Earthworm\_Jim](#): > > I’m so sick of this “OMG - A MALE TALKED TO A FEMALE!!! STALKER!!!” meme. > > That is all. Why, well… okay then. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2012, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-cop-and-his-epic-failure/608398/15 "2012-01-04T21:18:28Z")
The letter is so innocuous and sweet that I might actually have called the poor guy. What does that make me? I guess he knows now no girl that attractive is ever going to go for a guy like him. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![mnemosyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c4cdca/32.png) [@mnemosyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mnemosyne)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2012, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-cop-and-his-epic-failure/608398/16 "2012-01-04T21:38:32Z")
> [@Earthworm\_Jim](#): > > I’m so sick of this “OMG - A MALE TALKED TO A FEMALE!!! STALKER!!!” meme. > > That is all. Right. Except that - he didn’t talk to her to ask her out - he found her personal information and address through records that have no business being used as a little black book - he tracked her down and left a note on her car for her to find From her perspective, he’s a complete stranger that she had no reason to think she’d ever encounter again. Finding a note from him, at her house, is not “cute”, it’s creepy. For all she knew, he’s watching her from across the street as she reads the damn thing. If she never responds, will he come back? Had he ran into her at the store, or asked her at the time of ticketing, this would be a non-story. But this pings my creepy-meter, for sure, and I would definitely have filed a complaint with the police department. At the least, it’s inappropriate. At the worst, she had reason to be fearful. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2012, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-cop-and-his-epic-failure/608398/17 "2012-01-04T21:53:36Z")
It was definitely wrong of him to look up the address, and when she tried to file a complaint, someone should have listened to her. Did she try to file a complaint? if not, the whole suing thing definitely sounds like a money grab. If she did and no one listened this is an acceptable way to make them listen. ---
**Author:** ![mnemosyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c4cdca/32.png) [@mnemosyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mnemosyne)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2012, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-cop-and-his-epic-failure/608398/18 "2012-01-04T23:17:20Z")
I have don’t know enough of the details about how she handled it and what the police department’s response was from that point on to comment on whether or not suing is a good idea. It may be a money grab, or she might just be suing for $132 😉 There definitely needs to be _some sort_ of consequence to the cop for having looked up her address and sought her out… that’s unacceptable in pretty much any business and should be disciplined. I don’t really think the guy is necessarily an actual stalker - more likely an absolutely clueless moron - but the steps he did take were creepy enough that I can understand the woman’s reaction to want to protect herself from him. I know we’ve had a ton of debates on these boards about “OMG STALKER!” and “rape culture” and whatnot…I don’t really want to start another one, but at the end of the day, the consequences to the woman could be so devastating that protecting herself must be what she does. Freaking out because an unattractive person approaches you in a coffee shop or on the bus is too much. I just don’t think that, in this specific case, there’s an overreaction to the guy’s actions (at least as far as making a complaint and expecting some sort of discipline…as I said, I don’t know if suing is an overreaction or not). ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2012, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-cop-and-his-epic-failure/608398/19 "2012-01-04T23:25:59Z")
> [@Earthworm\_Jim](#): > > I’m so sick of this “OMG - A MALE TALKED TO A FEMALE!!! STALKER!!!” meme. > > That is all. This bugs you…and you let “besides the point” slide? What the hell’s wrong with you? ---
**Author:** ![LurkerInNJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ed655f/32.png) [@LurkerInNJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LurkerInNJ)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2012, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-cop-and-his-epic-failure/608398/20 "2012-01-04T23:26:07Z")
> [@YogSosoth](#): > > I dunno, I thought that note was kind of charming. I thought so too. Unless he was a total jerk, I would have gone out with him if he left me that note. If Tom Hanks did this in a movie, it would be a blockbuster love story. Total overreaction. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-cop-and-his-epic-failure/608398.md?page=2)