*Post updated here, apparently these were West LA Police (in Santa Monica.)
And that awesome blogger is me.
I was walking home from work this evening, heading north on Franklin St. with my earbuds in when I saw two Santa Monica police officers talking to a man on the side of the road. I continued walking and said “‘scuse me” and kept walking to which the circled police officer below started yelling:
“Stop! Stop! Stop when someone tells you to stop!”
Me: “Um, do you see these?” (pointing at ear buds)
Santa Monica Police Officer That Harassed Me For No Reason: “Yeah, do you see ME?”
Me: “Uh yes, I’m just walking home.”
Santa Monica Police Officer That Harassed Me For No Reason: “You don’t walk up behind someone like that, go wait back there!”
(I wait by the yellow wall for a few seconds)
Santa Monica Police Officer That Harassed Me For No Reason: “Don’t walk up behind someone like that, wait or go around.”
Me: “Soooo… can I go around now?”
Santa Monica Police Officer That Harassed Me For No Reason: “I just said you could!”
Me: “Ohhh kay..”
Santa Monica Police Officer That Harassed Me For No Reason: “You got a problem!?”
Me: (No reply, blurry iPhone photo snapped)
Aggressive rookie cops like this fool are the reason that many people have no respect for police officers. Who is he protecting by harassing a pedestrian? People this jumpy should not be carrying a gun. I will email the Santa Monica Police until I receive a response and acknowledgement of this rookie’s douchebaggery.
I realize this photo is blurry, but this officer was young with a blonde flat top.
{ 12 comments… read them below or add one }
You should have gotten his badge number. If you have the car number they will know which officers were driving it.
There’s a couple numbers in the pic, hopefully that helps out a little.
I dunno – you’re blog is fresh, but “Um, do you see these?” (pointing at ear buds) is kind of a smart-ass remark.
“Sorry Officer, I had headphones on” would have been a better response.
Even better would be “I apologize, Officer, I realize wearing headphones makes me a ‘distracted pedestrian’ and I should be more careful, especially when walking into police activity, which I should never assume is minimal.”
I see your point, and thanks for the comment, but my snarkier-than usual response was in response to his initial aggressive reaction to my walking up the sidewalk.
The cop still had no reason to stop him or detain him (wait over there) What probable cause was there? Because the officer wanted to exercise some power?
“SERVE and protect” This isn’t Judge Dredd.
Everyone hates the police. I know I do.
i got a story like that on my music nerdery right now. good job posting this; always log when you have incidents with retarded cops.
FYI that’s not smpd, they don’t have those cars or emblem on sleeve
Wrong, that IS SMPD
That is incorrect Anthony: http://www.google.com/images?hl=en&source=hp&biw=980&bih=1208&q=smpd&btnG=Search+Images&gbv=2&aq=f&aqi=g2&aql=&oq=
Don’t walk into police activity…period. I have volunteered with California State Parks and indirectly done some stuff with LAPD, SMPD and LACO Sheriff…just be respectful and don’t make any smart ass comments/remarks. You will just wind up getting harassed by the officer. There job is stressful enough and they don’t need anyone making it harder for them. There are NO routine calls for any law enforcement officer and what if the subject they were talking to had a weapon..? The police are there to keep you safe.
Scott, shut up you pathetic pushover. The officer’s job is to ensure that people minding their own business are protected, NOT harassed. Cops shouldn’t even harass criminals, they should just remove them from areas where they will affect good law-abiding citizens. This is NOT a police state, we are NOT required to be polite to officers that are not polite to us.