TBWCYL Day 281 - You have the right to remain Amphibious

I pulled up to Whataburger today to go grab a tea and sit and read during lunch when I saw an opportunity to complete today's task. Before I tell you what it was I have a little story.

Imagine if you will...(Dooddelido, Doddelido, Dooddelido)*
Young Trinity and Young Thomas are sitting in Trinity's pickup discussing life.**
"Thomas, you know what I was thinking? You see cops break the law all the time but they don't get in trouble for it."
"Well, they are breaking the law to protect people."
"Sure sometimes but not all the time. Sometimes I bet they just turn the siren on to run the light. We should follow a cop around and if we see him break the law for no reason we should place him under citizens arrest."
"You can't do that. You would probably get arrested for assaulting an officer."
"We must protect people from crooked cops!"
"You go right ahead and do that then."

I never got to put a cop under citizens arrest but I wanted too. Thomas was probably right though so it is a good thing I never tried. But the idea was there and it tied in to today's task. I was supposed to follow a cop around and make sure he was not flaunting his authority and breaking the law.

Now, back to Whataburger. I had pulled up when just as I put the car in park, a police man pulled in. I walked inside and got a drink and went to sit down. He was behind me in line and it dawned on me that I could complete my task. He was alone so I sat at a 2 person table thinking he might do the same and sure enough he sat at the next table. Thus began my reconnaissance mission.

I sat reading my book and watching him. He was carrying a piece, pepper spray, a flashlight and cuffs and my first thought was, "Damn, how do you sit with all that on you?" He ate a salad(pussy) and kept to himself. Then his communicator walkie talkie thing went off. I couldn't understand it but he immediately got on his cell phone and called his station. He said something about having a HASMAT team go to somewhere where the substance was. I instantly became intrigued.

He then placed a second call to someone else telling them they needed to get HASMAT to the place and that he had already called the other person to warn them. They had a substance and were not going to be too careful since they didn't know what it was, who it belonged to, or where it came from.

It. Was. Awesome.

He finished his salad quite calmly and got up from his table to leave. It was the first time I had gotten a good look at him. He was around 6 feet, white, and balding. He shaved his head to the scalp to help hide it. I saw his name badge as he walked out the door and learned he was a sergeant. I am not familiar with ranks but that sounds impressive.

Was he on the clock while at lunch? Maybe. It didn't stop him from working so I don't know if he is working at lunch or lunching at work. He didn't throw his power around but I did notice he didn't get a drink and when the woman brought his food she asked if he wanted a water. She was probably intimidated. I guess I would give him a passing grade on acceptable behavior though.

That is all,

Newt

*Wayne' World reference. "Party on Wayne." "Party on Garth."
**This is a paraphrasing of an actual conversation. I didn't remember the real one very well but it went sort of like this.