Well, besides the usual antics (turning on the lightbar then driving, perhaps speeding, ahead so we’d follow, then turning off the lightbar, etc), the KPD was friendly as usual Saturday night. The police presence seemed heavy, but they claimed it was a normal Saturday night.
As before, some drunk white kids did not appreciate or like copwatchers. After watching their friend pepper sprayed and held to the ground, we approached an SUV with 3 people remaining inside. The girl in the back very much appreciated us, but the guy next to her got angry at us. Nick told him that we were there to make sure the cops didn’t hurt him. This combined with the soothing of the girl who liked us being there did calm him down. The girl in the front seat however, was not pleased at all (her boyfriend was the pepper sprayee). She was yelling at us, and particularly 280, who had the camera, to go away. The girl in the back seat tried to calm her down, while the guy was asking for a lighter. The girl in back also wanted a lighter, but the police would not allow 280 to approach.
After the girl up front refused to calm down, we left the scene to watch from a nearby parking lot. After the cops began to leave, we again approached the SUV. I apologized to the woman in front who was still hysterical and now began to threaten us. We managed to give a lighter and a WARNING flier to the girl in the back. Even though the guy had just been given a free lighter, the antics of the woman in front had whipped up his anger again and he stepped out of the vehicle and indicated he was ready to fight all four of us. By this time KPD was already back and intervening with him. We all decided it was time to go. Here’s the video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OVWeZss1Tec
This was another bummer for me. I understand that people are drunk and certainly upset at being pulled over and their friend pepper sprayed, but it amazes me how many choose to be angry at copwatch. Even though 280 told her early on that he wasn’t recording her but instead recording the cops, she remained violently angry at him, yelling about how he doesn’t have “permission” to record her. This is why, usually before I pull out a camera I will ask the person (during an uneventful stop) who is being victimized if they want me there to keep an eye on the cops. Usually, they say no and I’ll leave. Since when we arrived the guy was already on the ground being handcuffed, the cameras came out immediately and nothing anyone said could calm this woman down.
I think copwatchers should always deescalate the situation. If dealing with a carload or group of drunks and even one of them doesn’t want you there, it seems the right choice is to completely leave the scene. Your thoughts? Discuss on this forum thread.
On the good news side, we did encounter a car of black males in their 20s being pulled over. We got out and I approached after the trooper went back to his car and asked the driver if we could keep an eye on things. He said yes after looking surprised at first, and I gave him a WARNING! flier and suggested he say no to any searches. He seemed to appreciate that bit of unsolicited advice, and we stood and observed for the entire stop. Afterwards the driver waved at us when they pulled away, and we waved back. A much needed boost to a downer of a night.
I really felt like the black guys appreciated us. Just as we arrived, another cop pulled in behind the trooper to double the intimidation. Who knows what the police would have tried if we hadn’t arrived. I’m not saying all the cops around here are racist, but I bet you there are far more black guys in jail than there are as a percentage of Cheshire county’s population.
Finally, props to KPD for doing their job the right way and intervening in a tense situation with angry drunks. If real protection were your full time job instead of having the additional responsibilities of collecting revenue and arresting peaceful people, I’d happily support you.
