Hassled By Local Police While Walking - Your Thoughts?
 

So this has been bugging me all day and not sure if I am being overly sensitive?

This morning at 8am my oldest friend from middle school (we've been friends for 35 years) visited me for the first time here in Houston, he was flying in from Germany.

He's never seen a Bayou so we walked a few blocks from my house and I was explaining to him how they manage storm water and how they crested their banks during Hurricane Harvey. I live in a nice quiet neighborhood that is very safe.

On our short walk back to my house I saw a police car following us very slowly and I didn't pay any attention to it until it pulled into a driveway in front of us blocking our path and the sidewalk followed by the officer jumping out.

The officer then approaches me and asks "if I was walking by the school and crossed the Bayou bridge"?

I responded that we walked to the Bayou's edge but never crossed the bridge or never came close to the school (about 1/2 mile away).

The officer then said that they received a report of two suspicious men walking by the school, I firmed up and said we never walked by the school, to which he responded "why would someone call and lie to the police department?". He then asked if I actually lived in the neighborhood, to which I said "yes for the past decade" and I pointed to my house which was about 100-ft away.

It was tense for a few minutes and then then the officer got into his car and drove off, but he actually called for back up and within seconds two other cop cars came cruising down the street.

It was surreal and bizarre. I was left thinking if the officer was just doing his job and following up on the supposed call or was this a clear case of harassment and profiling (seeing that my friend and I are both minorities), taking into consideration we are both almost 50 year old men that were well dressed and walking slowing and talking (enjoying the morning). The way the officer handled it was also unprofessional.

Ironically, after my neighborhood flooded I donated \ contributed much of my personal time to help the municipality as I am a Texas registered professional engineer with many years of storm water management and hydraulic modelling. My friend said he is never coming back to the US after this morning.

So what says you guys?

I think you have a small-minded friend.

Just a cop doing his job.
And could have done it better.

It there was an actual call

Yep,

Unfortunately a lot of LEO's are on a crusade to save the world and don't stop to use a little common sense.

This.

I figure one of two things.

1 THere were two other dudes that may have been suspicious. If the cop got next to no description other than "2 <insert applicable minority here> guys", then it was a case of him checking you out, and not knowing (especially these days) what 2 people (regardless of classification) will do if confronted.

2 Some moron saw the two of you and called you in as suspicious (a BS complaint made by a moron) and you were the right two guys, but once he got there, and looked at you and spoke to you for a few mins, realized it was BS and left. It's just unfortunate, that he wasn't a little nicer about it.

With the way cops seem to be widely hated (and killed) these days for no reason at times, it's easy to understand why he might be a little tense, but at the same time, that's not an excuse for him being anything other than polite.

You and your friend should have started running showing your friend how the incidents on the news happen.

Steve nailed it, your friend needs to grow a thicker skin.

Once you told him where you lived and your name it would have taken him seconds to verify it.

No need for backup to have been called.

And if your friend is from Europe, they actively profile there, so I agree with the small minded comment.

If it was my best friend, I’d have asked the cop to taze him...

Thanks for all the replies gang - much appreciated. Its good reading the responses.

My friend was saying he isn't coming back in jest but the experience did leave a sour taste.

Some anxious old lady probably thought you were up to no good and called it it?

seeing that my friend and I are both minorities..It just goes to show ya Racism is alive and well in America.

ANY MINORITY GROUP that looks different than the general population is going to be treated with suspicion. "You are NOT LIKE US OUUU." You can not escape it, it is HUMAN NATURE.

The LEO might have been more polite in checking out the call in, as the caller didn't see a crime committed? And the LEO didn't see you doing anything suspicious. One one hand you can be happy that LE is on top of it in your hood and on the other it is a personal slight..

African Americans in particular in America have been given the short end of the stick for centuries and have had their emotional nerve endings frayed..since a not going away ever bias exists (human nature), emotion has to be side stepped in dealing with the situation...other wise the results can be fatal. You can express your displeasure at the incident to the Mayor, your Congressman, Councilman, Police Chief, your Pastor and or the Media. It all depends on how much you want to press the issue?

Everybody wants to be treated with respect.

Cop probably saw two guys walking to smoke herbs away from home or something.
Easy ticket/bust without much effort required.
Gets his quota for the day.

LOL. "Let me put on my magic mind reading cap and find out for ya. Okay?"

We are not talking two twenty somethings in baggy pants checking out homes... two well dressed adults out for a walk in their own neighborhood.

I can give the LEO the benefit of doubt and he probably thought he was just doing his job.

At least he didn't grab the door of your van

Also he should have reached for his Smart Phone in his pocket at the same time....and we would be having FILM AT ELEVEN....

LE Spokesman to the media.."The suspect was running and reaching for a gun after the officer told him to stop, put his hands up and lay on the ground." Media person, "Well is it true that the LEO shot the Suspect 14 times in the back, and in fact the Suspect was reaching for his Smart Phone?" LES, "This incident will be fully investigated."

How did the LEO know it was the Suspects own hood...maybe our Suspect is the only minority person living in that Hood..which makes him Suspicious.

Pejorative..BIAS...

LEO don't need no quota...they see enough shyte happening everyday to fill up the jails ...

Holy carp, a tabs post that didn't make me roll my eyes. Not only that, but I think I can agree with the post. Wow. Will wonders never cease?!?

Some neighborhood busy-body reported a pair of middle aged child molesters scoping out the school and the cop was routed. He was unnecessarily curt but performed his duty and realized after talking to you it was a BS call so he left.

I reported a dude on a bike rifling mailboxes in my neighborhood which happens a lot. The routed officer calls me on my cel as I am following mail thief slowly in my truck and asks me 17 questions, attempts to confuse me, and says I made false statements to the police. Annoyed, I calmly re-stated exactly what I saw and exactly where this guy was.

Officer arrives shortly, questions mail thief, searches his backpack which is full of other peoples mail and his drug paraphernalia. Mail thief is a chronic offender who was recently released, now in handcuffs and headed back to his room with no view.

Cops have a ****ty job and deal with lowlifes all day every day while putting themselves at great potential risk. It does affect their cheerful personality. If they eventually do reach the right conclusion I can forgive their sometimes crappy attitude. I want them out there and I surely don't want their job.

At least he has something exciting and interesting to talk about when he goes home...

"Heey what happened on your holiday in America....anything exciting?" "Yeah I got rousted by some Redneck Pecker wood Cops for walking down the street in Houston Johann!!!"

You over looked and failed to mention the called for reinforcement backups...