I've encountered sheriffs, deputies, couple of homicide detectives, an internal affairs officer, prison guards, state troopers, FBI, town cops, bomb squad, K9 handlers and rent-a-cops.

I've encountered law enforcement at a gay pride march in Iowa City, Chicago and Dubuque, never had a problem. I've been hired to do work in cop shops and cars. I was interviewed by 2 FBI agents regarding another FBI agent, a friend of mine is a jailer*, and living on busy hiways off and on over the years I've encountered several for wrecks nearby.

Worst experience wasn't really a cop, it was Defense Industrial Security when I declined processing for a security clearance, but the man I dealt with was totally professional about it, the situation was just something I really did NOT want to be in. Figured I would be fired, but I wasn't.

Most fun is homicide. They have the BEST stories. State troopers would be second place.

(February 14, 2017 at 1:31 pm)mlmooney89 Wrote: You don't break the law you have no reason to even associate with the police.

This is overly idealistic. I'm saying that as someone with LEOs in my family.

(February 14, 2017 at 7:44 pm)vorlon13 Wrote: I've encountered sheriffs, deputies, couple of homicide detectives, an internal affairs officer, prison guards, state troupers, FBI, town cops, bomb squad, K9 handlers and rent-a-cops.

I've encountered law enforcement at a gay pride march in Iowa City, Chicago and Dubuque, never had a problem.  I've been hired to do work in cop shops and cars.  I was interviewed by 2 FBI agents regarding another FBI agent, a friend of mine is a jailer*, and living on busy hiways off and on over the years I've encountered several for wrecks nearby.

Worst experience wasn't really a cop, it was Defense Industrial Security when I declined processing for a security clearance, but the man I dealt with was totally professional about it, the situation was just something I really did NOT want to be in. Figured I would be fired, but I wasn't.

Most fun is homicide. They have the BEST stories.  State troupers would be second place.

But you obviously got away with it...

only ever been arrested once


the bomb squad checked the venue for a gay pride march/rally in Dubuque. I had no idea what the officer was looking for, assumed it was a missing kid and asked if I could help.

He looked at me and said, no, not a kid, we're doing a bomb sweep.


Erk. Later on I was told by someone who was there early they checked under all the cars parked in the area too.

had one cop who did not know I was a 12 Stepper tell me he was. I've encountered others at 12 Stepper meetings. Even a gay one.


If what another cop told me was true (and I have come around to believing it finally) I know a guy who was a 'dirty' cop. He's not in law enforcement anymore (salesman now) but when I knew him then I didn't have any trouble with him. My trouble with not believing he was shady was my knowing for sure on one occasion he had been 'set up' for a problem by a county official who was definitely a problem. The cop came through that mess vindicated. But one vindication doesn't exonerate an entire remainder of a career either.

(February 14, 2017 at 5:46 pm)Khemikal Wrote: He says "Hey man, what's softshell cooter tast like anyway?"

I loves me some softshell cooter ... and I ain't talkin' turtle.

Went to school with a guy that's now a cop here. He was always a little guy before and I saw him get bodybuilderish right before my eyes. It's obvious to me and some others he's using steroids.

But the cops here in general aren't too bad in terms of dealing with them.

(February 14, 2017 at 8:46 pm)Thumpalumpacus Wrote:

(February 14, 2017 at 1:31 pm)mlmooney89 Wrote: You don't break the law you have no reason to even associate with the police.

This is overly idealistic. I'm saying that as someone with LEOs in my family.

Especially for people of the, ahem... African American persuasion...
Edit: (and I just mean *statistically*... in some places...)

(February 14, 2017 at 9:38 pm)TheRealJoeFish Wrote:

(February 14, 2017 at 8:46 pm)Thumpalumpacus Wrote: This is overly idealistic. I'm saying that as someone with LEOs in my family.

Especially for people of the, ahem... African American persuasion...
Edit: (and I just mean *statistically*... in some places...)

There's that, of course. I can only speak from second-hand experience, but as a member of an interracial family, I know my brother-in-law and nephew get stopped and questioned for shit that won't get me much attention.

And as a white guy with an often unconventional appearance when I was younger, I've been stopped and bothered enough to find their stories very believable.

They're nice enough to me. 

I wouldn't want to be a minority and walk into their cross hairs, though.

If the internet is to be believed everyone of you who has had any contact with an LEO should be dead right now.