Jersey Mike

“License, registration and insurance card”

(No ‘please’ or ‘thank you’)

I got pulled over at Front and Verbeke streets at about nine o’clock this morning.

Officer Johnson- Badge Number 39 was the officer.

You see, I’ve been dragging my feet on getting my car inspected for quite some time now. The emissions passed, but since my car is so old, there are quite a few quirks and clinks that make it quite costly to meet the inspection standards.

The car is safe and everything functions just fine- but my turn signal arm doesn’t stay engaged while signaling- so when I change lanes or turn a corner, I normally just hold the arm until I’ve completed the turn.

The point of today’s entry isn’t to dispute my failure to get my car up to snuff to pass the tough inspection standards we suffer though here in the Commonwealth-

The point of today’s entry IS, however, being written to bring to light my absolute disgust at the way I was treated by this officer.

The exchange went rather simple- Officer Johnson, Badge 39 was executing a left hand turn from Front onto Verbeke. I was at the corner of Verbeke and Front about to turn left into traffic. He swung the antiquated cruiser around the divider and followed me out onto Front Street.

“Woop woop!” and the flashing lights told me to pull to the left.

I handed him my credentials and TRIED to explain that I had received another ticket for my inspection less than two weeks ago and that my car was scheduled to go to the mechanic THIS coming Wednesday.

He returned to his vehicle- leaving me sitting- cruiser with lights blaring behind me as the morning commuters slowed down and peered into my window.

Not so much embarrassing but more of just a real pain in the ass…you know. It’s a small town. I got three- count’ em- THREE text messages while I was sitting there from people I know passing by at this peak time of the morning.

When he returned, he continued in a condescending tone to hand me another ticket- and in a borderline BARK he told me to follow the instructions on the back of the ticket.

I was FLUMMOXED by the tone and demeanor of Officer Johnson, Badge number 39 while he literally spoke DOWN to me-

I’m a law abiding citizen. I don’t have a criminal record. And all that I was guilty of was having an expired inspection sticker.

Hardly grounds for the treatment this officer chose to give to me.

“Did I do something else to get pulled over? Is there something I did wrong besides the inspection sticker?” I asked him.

“If you’re car isn’t inspected, you shouldn’t drive!” he barreled. “It’s not ROCKET SCIENCE”

(Gee, why thank you ever so much, Officer Johnson- Badge Number 39, for that brief roadside lesson on ROCKET SCIENCE)

“Well, I really don’t feel that anything has been done on my part to warrant this condescending tone you’re taking with me, sir” I politely told the officer.

“I don’t CARE what you think!” he bellowed.

“Pardon me? You don’t CARE what I think?” Was my reply.

“No, I don’t CARE what you think” Officer Johnson, Badge 39 dutifully replied.

“What’s your name?!” I asked- considering he wore a badge but was without a name tag.

“Johnson! J-O-H-N-S-O-N. Make sure you spell it right” was his final statement before reminding me to “buckle up now before you pull away”.

You see, I wouldn’t have wrote this entry today highlighting the way that this guy spoke to me had he dealt with me with understanding, compassion and RESPECT.

I understand that I was in the wrong for continuing to drive with an expired inspection sticker.

But if this is the way that the Harrisburg Police conduct themselves while dealing with the public- law abiding citizens nonetheless- it’s no WONDER that the inner city has enacted a nationwide “Stop Snitchin” campaign.

It’s no WONDER why there is such a divide between the criminal element within our city and the police force.

It’s no WONDER why shootings continue daily, kids get hooked on crack and nobody tells the cops anything when a crime occurs in their neighborhood.

Look, I understand that the City’s police force is understaffed, underfunded and are basically resigned to nickel-and-dime fundraising efforts like picking off inspection stickers on Front Street instead of fighting the REAL crime that occurs on nearly every block in this city.

But Officer Johnson- I’m one of the GOOD guys. I’ve continually praised and voiced my sympathy for the poor working environment our city police force has to suffer through daily.

Shouldn’t that be enough for you to at least patronize me? Treat me with some compassion? Respect?

Regardless of the situation or crime, a police officer’s job is to protect and serve- WITHOUT bias or prejudice.

And shouldn’t it be a prerequisite for someone who chooses the profession of police officer to at least PRETEND to care about the citizens of this city and what they think?

Apparently, Officer Johnson, Badge number 39 doesn’t think so.