I personally witnessed racial profiling this morning

Arrow-Slinger · 07-27-2005, 06:59 AM

This morning at 2 a.m. I drove to the local gas station to get cigarettes and some doughnuts; I pulled in about the same time as this black gentleman in a minivan. I parked beside his van and went in, by luck we both came out together and he wanted to look at my truck. As we stood there talking a local policeman drove through, he made a slow pass and left. We continued to talk and a few minutes later the policeman came back and pulled up behind us and got out. He asked what we were doing out at 2 in the morning, this peed me off just asking this with no cause, I went into the cig and munchies story and the black gentleman said he was on his way to work, with that the policeman says; "œcan I see some i.d.?" As I reached for my wallet he says; "œNo not you, you can leave, JUST you" as he looked over at the other guy.

Not wanting to be an ass, I got in my truck and left; about a half mile down the road this incident started getting to me as I remembered I have temp plates on my truck. I made a u turn and went back to see if the van had plates, the whole time planning on the "œI forgot something" excuse. This time I pulled along the other side of the van and got out, mumbling how I should have bought two packs of cigs. I went to the back of the truck as if I were looking for scratches just to see the plates on the van, sure enough it had up to date plates. The policeman also had the guy"™s stuff, wallet, change, keys, etc. on the back of his cruiser as if he had searched him. I went in the store and slowly walked around like I was looking for things, a few minutes later the van drives off and the policeman went in the other direction.

Looks like profiling to me???

rick_reno · 07-27-2005, 07:53 AM

Maybe the cop radio system had a report of black gentleman in a van doing something bad. The cop asking "How you doing?" would be ok, asking "What are you doing out at 2am" would have gotten a silent reply from me. Do some hand signs like you're a mute and they'll leave you alone.

PhoenixMA · 07-27-2005, 08:03 AM

Dont be too quick to jump to conclusions.

Unless you were listening to a police scanner you dont know what may have come over his police radio. Maybe the guy fit the description of a suspect with an outstanding warrant. Maybe he got a call for a suspicious person in the parking lot and the description was a black guy. Maybe the police were doing a perimeter search for a crime committed a block or two away and the suspect was black.

If you dont have all the information you can make accusations like that. You may well be right, but at least treat the cops as well as the crooks and presume their innocence until proven guilty too.

Everyone complains that the cops are'nt doing enough to take bad guys off the street then when they try to be more pro-active people complain they dont like the "hassle" of being stopped. Can't have it both ways

Arrow-Slinger · 07-27-2005, 08:29 AM

You make valid points, but why not simply go to the guy and ask to speak to him? Why start off with a silly question like, why are you here to both of us at a 24/7 mini mart?

MoMOONRUNNER · 07-27-2005, 08:35 AM

It's hard to tell what the reasoning was as to the officer's actions. The guy may have been a habitual troublemaker or the officer may have been wrong. However, "profile" is such a nasty word. If you disagree with "profiling" you wouldn't be successfull in business, would probably be a horrible detective, probably have no analytical reasoning, and just really suck at math.

AJ52 · 07-27-2005, 09:50 AM

Don't have any idea or opinion on the"profiling" issue. I wasn't there.

At 2 am at a mini market where around here,those places can be a hang out for the Dredges of Society looking for trouble - the question of what your doing out at 2am is a very legit question.
I would give the man a straight up answer and be done with it. You cop an attitude with a cop just because he's a cop and thats just what pisses them off. He sees 2 guys talking outside at 2am and has no idea whats up?? Good Cop IMO.

Charlie P · 07-27-2005, 11:13 AM

Quote:

the question of what your doing out at 2am is a very legit question.

I don't agree. Just because your out at 2 am doesn't give an Officer any reason to start questioning you. Your at a store that is open for buisness,standing outside talking.

I would have said eating all your donuts and got in my car.

Sswpriz · 07-27-2005, 11:26 AM

Arrow, You've got to get out of FIBland !!!!

Charlie P · 07-27-2005, 11:33 AM

Quote:

Arrow, You've got to get out of FIBland !!!!

huh?

kevin1 · 07-27-2005, 11:58 AM

Quote:

ORIGINAL: Charlie P

Quote:

the question of what your doing out at 2am is a very legit question.

I don't agree. Just because your out at 2 am doesn't give an Officer any reason to start questioning you. Your at a store that is open for buisness,standing outside talking.

I would have said eating all your donuts and got in my car.

I agree , the LEO had no reason to stop under the circumstnces described , and certainly had no business asking the question that he did . If an altercation or other breach of the peace isn't occurring he should have just asked if anybody "needed any help" , and left after being assured that they didn't .

Note to the LEOs: Whether you realize it or not nearly all of you display a certain attitude that most civillians don't care for , and it usually puts us on the defensive . We don't expect you to be like Andy Griffith , but don't walk up copping a 'tude unless you want one in return .