Rent-a-cops

[Batman]

Gotta rant a little here.



I'm bringing my wife to go pick her car up late last night. We're driving through a fairly small New England town. I see flashing lithgts ahead so I slow down. Turns out, the town is painting crosswalk stripes. Theres a rent-a-cop in the middle of the road, my lane is blocked off, so I think they are allowing North bound to go in the South bound lane to go around where their painting. So I slow down and open my window to ask (I don't know my way around too well in this town, especially at night cause I can't see worth a crap). Keep in mind, there's no-one behind me and two cars that have a red light going across the road I'm on. This cop wanna-be points his flashlight in my eyes, has an attitude and says "keep it moving" blah blah blah. I'm like WTF, (honestly) not thinking too straight cause I'm tired, I hammer it, and go in the direction he wants me too. Well, it's about 80 something degrees out, high humidity... ... ... ... ..... and I think you can see where I'm going with this. Bye bye rent-a-cop in a nice think black cloud of smoke. :{ Oo. But, wait, it gets better, just as I'm about to plant my foot down, my wife says... ... ..... SMOKE EM I gotta tell you guys, I LOVE MY WIFE.



Sorry for the long post but figured it was a story to tell on how arrogant these rent-a-cops can be. Give them a little authority and it goes to their head. Just generalizing here, I can see if it was rush hour, or if there was a lot of traffic but come-on.



Anywho, have a great 4th of July.

 

[Shovelhead]

Great story Batman.



Your wife certainly sounds like a keeper.

 

[PHX ATC]

Batman,



I know how you feel.



I have to park inside the airport terminal, so thusly I am subject to a search of my vehicle whenever I enter the terminal. Not a problem in itself at all. Keep in mind that I have a shell on my truck that I keep locked.



Every single time I have asked these rent a cops to not put there greasy nose prints all over my windows and paint along my doors. Do they listen, of course NOT. Every single time I have to explain that I keep my shell locked so no one can steal what goodies I keep back there (a towel and a bungie cord). Do they listen, NO. I've had my levers that open the camper shell half broken off, my key jammed in the lock and half broken off, and even more greasy nose prints all over the back window. Well... after a while of this I decided that whenever they didn't do their job in a professional manner and respect my clean truck, I would make their work environment D I R T Y and S M O K Y. So, I smoked them out every time they left their mark on my truck.



After about 2 weeks of this, I now have all the rent a cops attention and they sure don't touch the sides or rear of my truck while they are looking in. We all get along marvelously now.



Smoke brings together more people!



Toby

 

[sberrio]

sounds like woonsocket

Hey Batman,

Was this in Cumberland or Woonsocket, this last week? I watched them do this to some poor tourist in each town. They are definately rent a cops (fat, old and stupid). Of course since I'm an Army Recruiter, they leave me alone with my GOV car.

good luck dealing with them.

simon

 

[Batman]

Simon... ... ... No... ... ... it was Norfolk, MA. BTW, I live in Woonsocket on the Cumberland border. Was that you in a black 2500 on rte 99, 295, and 116 on Sun?

George

 

[The patriot]

Not sure what you guys mean by "rent a cop"?

My definition of rent a cop is a contract employee. We used to have rent a cops here on Lakehurst base, they went to regular govt employees. The Wackenhut people come to mind, though these are very good rent a cops.

When we have cops here w/o guns, theyre the police explorers. Although they look the same age as most of the regular cops

Eric

 

['956Wheel]

Whenever I think of rent-a-cops, I think of that little actor Gary Coleman... he is one! Can you imagine a 3 1/2 foot, unarmed guy telling you what to do?



What choo talkin 'bout Willis!



Mike

 

[sberrio]

That was me

Batman,

That was me, & my Heavy foot. Your truck looks and sounds AWESOME!!! I'm currently working as an Army recruiter on Diamond Hill rd in Woonsocket, so watch out if you have High School age kids! Living in Lincoln now. I just put in Sports lights the night before & had to take it for a ride to make sure they wouldn't fall out.

simon

 

[Texas Diesel]

This is not a rent a cop story but a rent a fireman story.



Last week in Houston, a volunteer fireman turned himself in to the cops bcuz he was on his way to a GRASS FIRE (!) code 3 in his personal pickup. No siren or lights or markings, doing 85 in a 55 and hit and killed a mother of 5. He was let go on $10k bond, I guess the working mother of 5 wasnt worth much .

His case is going to the grandjury, I cant tell you how many times I have seen volunteer fireman speed, blowing redlights, stop signs etc. I hope they nail him good as a lesson to the other volunteer fireman. My son is a paid firefighter and volunteer and I am always hounding him not to exceed the spped limit in his personal vehicle.

 

[Batman]

Texas Diesel, I understand where your coming from. I don't know if it's adrenaline or bravado... ... ... ... ... ... . but what get into SOME of these guys?



SBerrio, I saw you coming in the rear view mirro on rte 99, my wife distracted me or I would have waved. I was surpirsed to see you again on 116 going the opposite direction. We were just out for a drive so I was taking the loooooong way. Maybe we'll meet again, since your office is a mile from my house.

George

 

[Amianthus]

Easy, Easy.

TD, what would you have us do? If you are having a heart attack, you would have us wait two and half minutes at a traffic light, go the speed limit, and obey all traffic laws knowing that you will probably die?! By the time we'd get to your aid, you may be too far gone for us to do any good. Bravado has very little to do with it! It's having a job to do and not having any time to do it in. Our county is that way because of the opinions that you voice and I shudder to think how many people die because we can't get there in time, or how many structures are lost, or how big a woodland fire can get if we dawdle.



Although, I will say this. Lights and sirens should be manditory (they usually are) when you are responding to a call. And 30mph over the limit is a bit excessive. But the law, at least around here, is clear. If you operate in a reckless manner, you will be held accountable. Sounds like that's what's gonna happen.



Tell you what. When you are in a car wreck and bleeding out all over the place, I'll take my time getting to the station to get that lifesaving equipment to you. Observing all laws, and making sure that noone gets offended by my driving habits. And by the time we can roll all the equipment to your location, you will have bled out and died. But hey, at least you won't be able to file a complaint, because you'll be dead!

 

[Texas Diesel]

Remember I said he was in route to a GRASS FIRE, not much of a medical emergency.



It wouldnt do much good to get to a medical call, one or two minutes sooner by running code 3 if you cause an accident or kill someone on the way.



I (including wife and two children) were very nearly hit in an intersection by a volunteer who was creeping through a red light by blowing his horn, he almost caused a pile up there, didnt seem to me to be worth him getting to his call a couple of minutes sooner.



I was wrong for saying I hope they throw the book at him, I'm sure he had the best intentions but just didnt use goood judgement. The real sad part is the family that lost her and I hope others can learn from this sad situation.

 

[Amianthus]

I do understand what you are saying. And the correct verbage was that he exercised poor judgement. But I don't think that the ability should be taken away from the whole because of the actions of the one. There are lots of times that more good comes of getting there faster. It sounds to me like there isn't much for warning signals on POV's that are responding. That's a big problem.

Grass fires are a fickle thing. They may not go anywhere in the amount of time it takes to get the equipment on scene. Or they may take off as fast as the wind will push them. I've fought them both ways and the latter sucks. Not to mention, you usually don't get a good report on the page out as to structures nearby, people involved (if there are any), or other hazards (LP tanks, fuel tanks, highways, etc. ). Each response need to be expeditious.



It is truly sad what happened. That I think goes without saying. I don't want to belittle that in any way. Better judgement might've prevented it from happening. We may never know.



Still, it's not a matter of poor attitude, or bravado. It's a matter of having to get somewhere to make a difference. Maybe frustration might be part of it. I have had people play road games with me on the way to a call when I have not used warning lights. When I have used them, it makes all the difference in the world. No malice, no games, no dirty looks. People understand that there is a reason I need to get to where I am going. Perhaps, that may be one of the contributing factors to what happened by you. Lack of adequate warning.



To give you an example of how the use of warning signals became restricted around here. A fellow in the town next to ours was responding to a call with his red lights and a siren on his POV. He approached a controlled intersection and had the red light. He stopped and waited for all the traffic to acknowledge that he was going to pass. He proceeded into the intersection. And just as he was, a minivan went through the intersection with a green light and hit him. It killed her. Now I ask you, who was at fault? Him for going into the red lighted intersection, or her for not yielding? Well, the law says she was at fault, but they (Sherriff, newspapers, county board) made him the scapegoat for our county. This is a true story. Sounds pretty similar to what happened by you. And this frustrates us to no end.



(This is just a pet peeve of mine, so my passion for this issue may be a little biased)

 

[Batman]

Wow... ..... and I thought transmission and oil threads were the wild conversations.



Amianthus, just in case some of this is directed towards me... ... . I can understand your point about needing to get to a situation as quickly as possible. But, lights do help. and then again, how many accidents have happened with real apparatus? Whether they be police, fire or ambulance. Some people are ignorant to anyone else on the road. Some are not. I didn't mean to generalize about "rent-a-cops", I was merely venting for my particular situation.



It's somewhat "comical" that a select few can taint the reputation of many.



George

 

[Fireman Dave]

Well, I guess I'll chime in here too. We don't have lights or sirens on our personal vehicles on our department. It's a department policy because years ago some guys were abusing that tool. The red light and siren can make dangerous drivers out of well-intentioned emergency responders. We're in a very rural area, so the lights don't help as much as in a more congested area like Aron (Amianthus) lives in. Sometimes I wish we had the lights - when I'm stuck behind a really slow driver, but I know more times I'm glad we don't. Some of our guys can be a little too hyper as it is - especially the young guys. Adrenaline is a powerful thing!



On our department, our understanding is we can go 10 mph over the limit - BUT - we must always drive with DUE REGARD. This is also true with the trucks we take from the station. We don't have the right to run lights and stop signs without yielding - even in the firetrucks. We can go through them - but we must exercise due regard at all times. We're no good to anyone if we get involved in an accident with the rigs or our personal vehicles. Going fast in the trucks isn't very safe either, and it usually won't save much time in the long run. I don't have any desire to be in a firetruck when it rolls over - and it does happen.



That doesn't mean that we don't try to get there fast, but we try to be as safe as possible. In the case Aron talked about, I'd have to say I think the minivan driver can't be held too responsible - she had the light - and that supercedes even the emergency vehicle coming through the red light. She must yield, but I think it gets fuzzy when it's a personal vehicle with a light and siren. That's not technically an emergency vehicle, so I don't think you can hold her as responsible as if she hadn't yielded for a firetruck - but there again - she had the light. It's a touchy subject, I know, but I think we all have to drive defensively and remember that a light and siren don't make us invinsible.



Aron is my friend, and I understand where he's coming from. It's a shame that we all get a bad name for a few well intentioned - but overly excited people who make unfortunate mistakes. It's like the firefighters who have started the wildfires - it gives us all a bad name. I say throw the book at those fire setter jokers!



I can't see any defense for a guy driving 85 mph to a grass fire, though. He's got to be held accountable for those deaths. In fact - I can't justify that speed for any emergency. You have to get there - but above all else - you have to get there safely.



No flames intended to anyone, just my . 02.

 

[DavidGardner]

Well said Fireman Dave.

I agree 100 % with what you said. Being retired law enforcement. We were always taught that if you dont arrive at the scene you arent going to do anyone any good.



Dave Gardner.

 

[DarrellB]

I used to be on our VFD but dropped out becuase of guys like you all described. The VFD in my town is like the Mens club or something. Some of these guys would even be drinking and then respond to a call. A friend of mine that is still on the department has had 3 wrecks while responding to calls. I work nights so I responded to calls during the day so most of these idiots were not around while I was there. I really liked being on the department just don't want to be a part of the way these few guys act. A week before I quit we had a large house fire and there was a group at the firehouse washing trucks and they were drunk enough they got lost. It took them 40 minutes to get to a fire 6 miles away. I stood there watching a house burn while these idiots were driving 20 miles in the wrong direction. The hosue completely burt and I'm sure the people were real happy about it. The next week there was an article in the paper that was titled "Key Stone Cops" and a picture of the guys sitting at an intersection trying to figure out where they were going. That's a good way to get the trust of the community isn't it. After that I had had a enough and resigned after 4 years. Just the other day I seen a couple of those same guys driving a truck to a run again, ( I wounder if they made it )



Not all VFM are this way but it's the few that are that everyone sees and then assosiates with you. We have some real good guys on the department but I just wish they would get rid of the ones that are there to drink beer and feel important. #@$%!



The rest of you volounteers keep up the good work and be safe.

Darrell

 

[Sled Puller]

VFD?

Forget them!

The GAME COMMISSION blows redlights to get to a deer poaching around here!! Millions of the tall rats, and they act like they are Bald Eagles.

 

[Fireman Dave]

But Darrell, we need good guys like you to replace the other types. I know it's tough, but eventually enough responsible guys can change the whole atmosphere of the department. Please reconsider and get your department moving forward!

 

[DarrellB]

I still have all my turnout gear and pager and respond to calls just stay away from the firehouse and the meetings. The chief still wants me to join back up but I have a few requests first. We are still working on those and trying to limit who drives the trucks and who doesn't. I don't care what those few guys do in thier own trucks but when a house burns because I don't have water that kind of ticks me off.



Darrell