# I just had an interesting interaction with the cops, today. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 19, 2013, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-had-an-interesting-interaction-with-the-cops-today/676766 "2013-12-19T22:21:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Cheshire\_Human](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Cheshire\_Human](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheshire_Human)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2013, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-had-an-interesting-interaction-with-the-cops-today/676766/1 "2013-12-19T22:21:47Z")
I’m sitting mostly outside of the passenger seat of my car, using my Dremel to grind a slot in some steel bar-stock, for a project my mother wants. State Troopers drive slowly by, and I barely notice. A couple of minutes later, some guy starts walking up my driveway, toward me. I kinda notice, shut off the Dremel, go to take off the goggles, notice the ear-muffs are in the way, and my hood (it’s in the mid 30s) is in the way, so I put down the metal, take off the hood, take off the ear-muffs, take off the goggles, notice it’s a State Trooper, and ask what he wants. They got a 911 call from my address. Oh, shit! Maybe Ma has a problem. Then we have to go by the dog wearing a [‘Cone of Shame’](https://www.google.com/search?q=%22cone+of+shame%22&lr=&safe=images&hl=en&as_qdr=all&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=eG2zUqSQLMjbkQfHi4GoCg&ved=0CDgQsAQ&biw=1366&bih=631). Turns out Ma’s emergency button is fucked, and 911 got a ‘hang-up’ call. So they sent those guys out to investigate. _They_ saw me using power tools to shape, and possibly _sharpen_ a piece of steel. I didn’t actually _see_ it, but I bet they drew straws on who would confront me (a potential homicidal nut) and who would hang back with his hand on his gun. One or both of those guys were ready to shoot me, if there had been lots of blood when I let them into my house. Hmmm… Interesting. And I didn’t realize it, until they were already gone. There are a million ways to get shot. **ducati** can probably tell us about them. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Finagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@Finagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finagle)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2013, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-had-an-interesting-interaction-with-the-cops-today/676766/2 "2013-12-19T22:43:33Z")
Unless there are parts of the story you’re omitting, you had a completely uninteresting interaction with the cops today. Seriously, no one thought you were sharpening a weapon with a Dremel. Houses are full of sharp objects that can be used as weapons. Note that your story has a complete lack of drawn guns or tasers, or really anything else that might indicate that this was anything but a normal wellness check. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2013, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-had-an-interesting-interaction-with-the-cops-today/676766/3 "2013-12-19T22:56:37Z")
> [@Cheshire\_Human](#): > > Then we have to go by the dog wearing a [‘Cone of Shame’](https://www.google.com/search?q=%22cone+of+shame%22&lr=&safe=images&hl=en&as_qdr=all&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=eG2zUqSQLMjbkQfHi4GoCg&ved=0CDgQsAQ&biw=1366&bih=631). Lucky for you the cops weren’t PETA members, or you’d have been tased at the very least. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Cheshire\_Human](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Cheshire\_Human](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheshire_Human)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2013, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-had-an-interesting-interaction-with-the-cops-today/676766/4 "2013-12-19T23:02:37Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > Lucky for you the cops weren’t PETA members, or you’d have been tased at the very least. :eek: I’ve seriously been considering tasing that dog. My cats hate him. I’m considering hating him, too. But he is my dog, and I love him. ---
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2013, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-had-an-interesting-interaction-with-the-cops-today/676766/5 "2013-12-19T23:22:25Z")
> [@Cheshire\_Human](#): > > I kinda notice, shut off the Dremel, go to take off the goggles, notice the ear-muffs are in the way, and my hood (it’s in the mid 30s) is in the way, so I put down the metal, take off the hood, take off the ear-muffs, take off the goggles, notice it’s a State Trooper, and ask what he wants. There is a great amount of detail in this sentence. I am not sure why. ---
**Author:** ![Battle\_Pope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@Battle\_Pope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Battle_Pope)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2013, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-had-an-interesting-interaction-with-the-cops-today/676766/6 "2013-12-19T23:32:16Z")
> [@Frylock](#): > > There is a great amount of detail in this sentence. I am not sure why. Noticed all that detail did you! :dubious: Casing the thread in order to break-in and murder us all in our beds I’ll bet. ---
**Author:** ![SerafinaPekala](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecae2f/32.png) [@SerafinaPekala](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SerafinaPekala)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2013, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-had-an-interesting-interaction-with-the-cops-today/676766/7 "2013-12-19T23:58:51Z")
There’s a sitcom in this interaction somewhere but Im having trouble with it. Maybe if opposing ethnicities were involved or something? ---
**Author:** ![janeslogin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@janeslogin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/janeslogin)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2013, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-had-an-interesting-interaction-with-the-cops-today/676766/8 "2013-12-20T00:00:16Z")
> [@Cheshire\_Human](#): > > … notice it’s a State Trooper, and ask what he wants. … Why? Why would anyone initiate a communication with approaching law enforcement? Isn’t it their job to initiate the communication. ---
**Author:** ![rsat3acr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a3d4f5/32.png) [@rsat3acr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rsat3acr)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2013, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-had-an-interesting-interaction-with-the-cops-today/676766/9 "2013-12-20T00:52:58Z")
> [@janeslogin](#): > > Why? Why would anyone initiate a communication with approaching law enforcement? Isn’t it their job to initiate the communication. I ask anyone walking up my driveway what they want. ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2013, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-had-an-interesting-interaction-with-the-cops-today/676766/10 "2013-12-20T01:48:21Z")
> [@Cheshire\_Human](#): > > but I bet they drew straws on who would confront me (a potential homicidal nut) and who would hang back with his hand on his gun. Oh, don’t be silly. One already had his gun out & sited on the base of your skull should you have been stupid. You just didn’t see him (which is also his job). Quickdraw is for 50s westerns and bad cartoons with goofy voices. ---
**Author:** ![AClockworkMelon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aclockworkmelon/32/10803_2.png) [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2013, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-had-an-interesting-interaction-with-the-cops-today/676766/11 "2013-12-20T01:53:33Z")
> [@Cheshire\_Human](#): > > I didn’t actually _see_ it, but I bet they drew straws on who would confront me (a potential homicidal nut) and who would hang back with his hand on his gun. One or both of those guys were ready to shoot me, if there had been lots of blood when I let them into my house. Hmmm… Interesting. And I didn’t realize it, until they were already gone. Neither of them were afraid of you. ---
**Author:** ![kushiel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bbce88/32.png) [@kushiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kushiel)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2013, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-had-an-interesting-interaction-with-the-cops-today/676766/12 "2013-12-20T01:56:24Z")
> [@janeslogin](#): > > Why? Why would anyone initiate a communication with approaching law enforcement? Isn’t it their job to initiate the communication. Because not everyone thinks law enforcement is evil and out to get them? ---
**Author:** ![Cheshire\_Human](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Cheshire\_Human](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheshire_Human)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2013, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-had-an-interesting-interaction-with-the-cops-today/676766/13 "2013-12-20T05:22:19Z")
> [@janeslogin](#): > > Why? Why would anyone initiate a communication with approaching law enforcement? Isn’t it their job to initiate the communication. Well, he did say _something_ first, but I couldn’t hear shit with the ear-muffs on. That’s kinda their point, to muffle the shrieking of the carbide bit grinding the steel. > [@kushiel](#): > > Because not everyone thinks law enforcement is evil and out to get them? Yeah, this. I didn’t think anything odd about it, until he told me they’d gotten a 911 call from my address. I didn’t even realize they were suspicious of me until after they had left. ---
**Author:** ![pool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pool/32/4152_2.png) [@pool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pool)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2013, 6:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-had-an-interesting-interaction-with-the-cops-today/676766/14 "2013-12-20T06:03:56Z")
Honestly I didn’t used to feel this way but after reading the increasingly common stories in the news where innocent people are routinely killed by the police for literally no reason other than the fact that the police can get away with it, I always feel uneasy when interacting with the police. I can picture scenarios where someone doing what you were would be shot by the police because “he had something in his hands” and “he failed to respond to verbal commands”. The worst part is the police are rarely, rarely, I repeat rarely prosecuted for these wrongful killings. The worst thing that happens to them is paid vacation or if they really fucked up maybe getting fired. [http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/12/06/police-shoot-137-times-into-car-after-chase-killing-unarmed-couple.html](http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/12/06/police-shoot-137-times-into-car-after-chase-killing-unarmed-couple.html) [http://www.salon.com/2013/07/07/%E2%80%9Cwhy\_did\_you\_shoot\_me\_i\_was\_reading\_a\_book\_the\_new\_warrior\_cop\_is\_out\_of\_control/](http://www.salon.com/2013/07/07/%E2%80%9Cwhy_did_you_shoot_me_i_was_reading_a_book_the_new_warrior_cop_is_out_of_control/) [http://www.courthousenews.com/2010/06/24/28330.htm](http://www.courthousenews.com/2010/06/24/28330.htm) Oh and you are lucky you don’t have a pet dog that ran outside to greet the police: [http://www.petsadviser.com/news/dogs-shot-by-police/](http://www.petsadviser.com/news/dogs-shot-by-police/) ---
**Author:** ![Cheshire\_Human](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Cheshire\_Human](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheshire_Human)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2013, 6:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-had-an-interesting-interaction-with-the-cops-today/676766/15 "2013-12-20T06:27:21Z")
Yeah, see? I ain’t _nearly_ as paranoid as I should have been! ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2013, 11:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-had-an-interesting-interaction-with-the-cops-today/676766/16 "2013-12-20T11:55:36Z")
> [@Cheshire\_Human](#): > > …I bet they drew straws on who would confront me… Yes, the police routinely stock squad cars with a supply of straws for situations such as yours. mmm ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2013, 11:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-had-an-interesting-interaction-with-the-cops-today/676766/17 "2013-12-20T11:59:36Z")
There’s nothing to see here, folks. Move along… ---
**Author:** ![Cheshire\_Human](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Cheshire\_Human](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheshire_Human)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2013, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-had-an-interesting-interaction-with-the-cops-today/676766/18 "2013-12-20T14:11:36Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > Yes, the police routinely stock squad cars with a supply of straws for situations such as yours. > mmm OK, maybe they flipped a coin. Of course the one I didn’t see until later looked really young, so maybe it was a case of ‘let the rookie take the heat for shooting the unarmed guy’. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2013, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-had-an-interesting-interaction-with-the-cops-today/676766/19 "2013-12-20T15:35:52Z")
Maybe you should stop doing suspicious looking things and act normal. I’d have shot you just for looking the way you did. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Cheshire\_Human](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Cheshire\_Human](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheshire_Human)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2013, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-had-an-interesting-interaction-with-the-cops-today/676766/20 "2013-12-20T19:51:05Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > Maybe you should stop doing suspicious looking things and act normal. “Oh, no! The cops are behind us! Just stare straight ahead and act natural!” -Cheech Marin. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-had-an-interesting-interaction-with-the-cops-today/676766.md?page=2)