Hi XYY,

My only point in sharing the stories, was my own personal statement as to what I've experienced.

I live out west, not coastal west, but inland, the area has a reputation for outlaws, thugs, and dregs.

In regards to the first call so many years ago, the gun fire occurred, we called 911, their question was, 'is it still happening'. The answer was no, it happened just before we called. They said, 'then it's not an emergency', and we'll have an officer contact you to take a report when given time. "Take a number" was the clear message. We asked, what are we supposed to do if they're still around, that's when we got the 'shoot back' bullshit.

As far as 'armed', or 'weapons', I don't blame guns, I blame low IQ, and lazy people who unfortunately know cops aren't what the general public think they're for. I've lived in 'gun free' countries, where there are a lot of poor farmers; they carry machetes, and in those countries, machetes are used in assaults; those, and knives.

Guns will never go away, they simply exist, and are a tool; just as a machete, or even large trucks used to mow people down; I guess, even acid, as it has a real purpose, but is used to maim, and disfigure others.

You cannot get away from violence, it's just part of existence.

I mention all of this, as in the USA, we're fed a constant stream that the police provide some sort of 'god-like', 'selfless' service. This just isn't the case.

They always operate not off the Criminal Code of their jurisdiction, but also internal operating procedures; this 'second set of books', is what they use to basically trump up charges on someone. Take the concept of 'loitering', you see these 'no loitering' signs everywhere in America, basically, 'don't stand here, or we'll call the cops'.

Well, you don't get charged, or arrested for loitering by itself. They, the police, using their second set of books, will charge you with "Loitering, and PROWLING".

So, and you can look this up, there have been people, to be safe, have pulled off into a closed commercial parking lot at night, trying to figure out where they're at(lost), and cops show up. They not only get charged with loitering, but to insure the ticket 'sticks', adds the prowling on top of that. If you go look up prowling, it's very very very very very bad, and basically is that you've been 'casing', or been caught in the act of 'Surveillance for the future use of robbery'.

That's not fair, that's not justice, that's the act of a road pirate. Remember, the original pirates were ordained under the British Crown; Black Beard would be proud!

As to the night of my issue, the deputy literally told me, that 'he had another call that he must handle first, I asked what, as I thought 'wtf'. He said, he was 'assisting another officer on a DUI'(this was after he said he'd be out, and never came, 3 hours later). The funny thing with this, is the guy that drove off from my place was drunk, stoned, and apparently armed. The state I live in, I can personally with the assistance of an officer, write a citizens ticket; which does hold up in court.

The basic issue, is we live in the mountains, they don't like coming out here, and actually in many places, they won't go alone.

From there, we've got modern day incidences, like the resource officer at the Parkland shooting; he didn't offer aid, he ran for cover, and hid.

My point to all of this, I can comprehend many people disliking police. I'm not sure that I would ever call them again myself. I know the pieces of shit that I had the run in, are beyond petty, and dangerous, and even with audio recording, I got nothing from the police, or county.

So while the Starbucks thing is silly, and I agree fully it is, my only point is, cops aren't saints, and yes, many people have good reason for not liking them.

Having that said, I actually appreciate people like you, who as I assume a regular joe, common person, do like them. I actually thank you for writing positive things about them, I thank people who thank military personal for their wars of conquest, I mean 'freedom'.

The reason being, I think they're all dangerous, but to treat a dangerous person, or group with only spite, and you'll end up with rabid dogs. So in my eyes, by thanking them, I do believe it humanizes, and humbles them as a 'whole'. And yes, I do realize there are good people in the mix, but like any industry, the majority of people simply aren't that good at their jobs by way of iq, genetics, upbringing, or who knows what; they gotta be handled with kid gloves.