Thank goodness the case was dismissed

Let me say right off that I do not want anyone to think that all Phenix City police officers fit in the following description. But, there are some that do.


Some of our officers have become too disenfranchised from our community. In other words, they do not know us anymore. They have become too rigid in the performance of their duties and no longer understand that they are hired to “serve and protect.” Some of them must have misunderstood those words as to “harass and ticket.” But, I repeat, not all of our officers are like this – in fact very few are like this.

I remember the old days – when Phenix City was not that much smaller than today, but a whole lot more personal. Police officers knew the people they were to serve and protect by name. There was an officer in my old neighborhood in Asbury Park that not only knew the names of the kids in the neighborhood, but also the names of their parents and in which houses they lived. I bet you will find few that could claim that today.

I miss those days. I feel sorry for those people who will never know those days when life was lived at a slower pace – no video games, no 24-hour television stations and less mass transportation. In those days, kids played outside and neighbors talked with each other. We never had to create a neighborhood watch and put up those signs all over the place. In my old neighborhood, everyone watched out for each other. I am lucky to still live in a neighborhood where folks care about each other.

I especially missed those old days when I was pulled over by a Phenix City police officer on May 24 on my way to work. The officer asked why I was not wearing my seatbelt. I told her my doctor told me not to wear it because I had heart surgery recently and that the chest incision was not completely healed. She asked for the doctor’s excuse. Now, I do not know about you, but when my doctor gives me instructions he does not always write them down. I guess he feels I am intelligent enough to understand what he is saying and to follow those instructions. I told the officer I did not have a written excuse from my doctor. I did offer to show my chest incision as proof. The officer informed me that was “not relevant.”

Guess what? I was issued a ticket.

I asked the officer to have a supervisor come to the scene. I was told, “He said he ain’t coming.” I was also told a clean driving record of 38 years was “not relevant.” I was also informed by the officer that I would be arrested, handcuffed and taken to jail if I did not sign the ticket being issued. I signed under protest – actually wrote that on the ticket along with my signature.

As I began to leave, a second officer came to the scene. I stepped out of my vehicle thinking this must be the supervisor. It was not. This officer stepped out of his vehicle and, when he saw me step out of mine, held up one hand as if to tell me to halt and placed the other on his weapon. What? Was he going to shoot me for a seatbelt violation? I asked if he was the supervisor and he said he was not. I left.

I immediately contacted the City Manager and Police Chief. I informed them of the situation. I also told them to go talk to the officer and when the officer said I got ugly that she would be telling the truth. There was nothing they could do, but suggested I get a doctor’s excuse and take it to court. They said the judge would probably dismiss the charges. You think? But, why was I going to have to go to court in the first place? Could not the officer have used some common sense and sent me on my way with a warning or by telling me to be careful until I could wear the seatbelt again? The Police Chief told me the city could give the officers it employed all the training possible, but that they could not “fix stupid.” No they can’t.

I did inform the City Manager and Police Chief that before this ordeal ended it would cost the city more than the $25 dollars it would cost me if I were convicted in court. I figured at their salaries I had already gotten ahead by $50 or more for them having to deal with me over the telephone. And, I figured by going to court I would add to that total. That was the price the city would have to pay to keep hardened criminals like me off the streets.

So, I had to cancel another appointment with one of my doctors – not the one that told me not to wear the seatbelt (that was my heart surgeon) – in order to attend court on June 24. After 30 minutes of waiting, my case was called. I obtained no excuse from my doctor to take to court. I did not think I really needed that since I had proof of my reason for not wearing the seatbelt on my chest. The judge looked at me and asked if I had been wearing my seatbelt at the time I was pulled over and I said I was not. He said more than asked, “You weren’t wearing it because of your heart surgery?” I said, “Yes sir.” He said, “Case dismissed.” Finally, the ordeal was over.

Do I want you to harbor ill feelings for our police officers? No. There are far too many good officers to allow a few bad apples to taint their reputations. Do I want you to feel sorry for me for having to go through the ordeal? No. I want you to fight back like I did when you are confronted by the kind of police officer I had to deal with. Tell the Police Chief and City Manager of any problems. They will not know there is a problem if you do not tell them. And, remember the good officers who genuinely serve and protect our community, give out praise when it is deserved.

And, remember to carry your doctor’s instructions with you at all times.