I spent the better part of today being bounced around Albany when I was seeking to file a complaint against one of its officers, Officer #402. Basically, what happened was simply this: my wife and I were driving on the highway when another car brushed against us while my wife was trying to merge.
She did nothing wrong. I saw it happen. I tried to warn her, but it was too late. It is my contention that the operator of the other vehicle was in the wrong. We all did what we were supposed to do, which is pull over. I had no other way to contact the police than to dial 911. Within about ten minutes, 402 showed up.
Now a little aside here: I was very upset, a lot more upset than I would have been. But out of the car, just like clowns, popped out three Mexicans. Anyone who knows me and who visits this site often knows that I hate illegals and, to be perfectly frank, Mexicans themselves because they take, take, take without even belonging here.
By the time 402 arrived, I readily admit that I was lit. I was yelling at the Mexicans, and I had every right to do so. We had two problems that afternoon: my hatred for Mexicans, especially hatred for a Mexican who I feel hit our car, and the fact that I have schizoaffective disorder, which basically combines bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.
Normally, given my medication, I am as peaceful as a lamb, but when I saw those filthy Mexicans, a switch just flipped. I went off on all of them, even the teenage girl sitting in the back, texting her little heart out.
She tried to step to me and I called her a bitch. She responded, “never call a woman a bitch.” I then said, “then don’t be one!”
I told her I’ll call a spade a spade any time I wish. I then called her a whore because she was, in fact, dressed like one. She again protested and I again told her that I will call her what I like.
Anyway, as for 402, he refused to take my statement. He refused to call his supervisor. He refused to take a report. And that, dear reader, is why I lost my shit.
402 said I wasn’t involved. Really? REALLY?
I was both a passenger and a witness as I saw it all happen. Of course I was involved! That’s what pushed me over the edge with him. Yes, I was absolutely enraged when he got there and yes, I had an attitude problem, caused by a gaggle of likely illegal Mexicans.
But 402 failed to do his job and that is what compelled me to seek filing a complaint. Nothing formal. Not looking to put anything in his jacket or to jam him up. All I wanted was someone to listen to me and then speak with 402 about how he could have handled that call better.
So, there was wrong on both of our sides. I admit that I was wrong for the anger, and hopefully he can admit that he could have handled the call better. He could have and should have taken a formal report.
402 could have and should have taken the high road and called down his supervisor or at least he should have taken the report. It’s absolutely wrong that I, as a witness and passenger, was shut down.
In the end, 402 did not take that report and that enraged me. The decision was made that the damage would cost less than the insurance deductible, so everyone walked away without a ticket when the punk teenage Mexican driving the car caused the collision.
He should have absolutely gotten a ticket. That he didn’t enraged me even further.
The other car left, free to do whatever it is that Mexicans do. 402 stayed parked behind us while I used my phone to take pictures of the damage. You see one such photo to your left. He got out of his car and asked my wife if I was calling his supervisor.
My outraged response was, “I’m taking pictures. Ever heard of it?” He then backed off and walked back to his car.
I then got in our car and we drove away with no report and, at that moment, no justice, leaving behind an officer with a real bad attitude. Hopefully, his supervisor will be able to adjust that. As long as he knows that although I was in the wrong with my anger directed towards him, he was in the wrong for how he handled things.
Today, after getting no justice, I left a few messages for the police chief’s office and, once again, with their Office of Professional Standards, an ironic name given that they’ve been less than professional throughout this mess.
I was in the middle of writing an angry article when my phone rang. It was 402’s supervisor. He took the time to listen to me. I admitted to him that I was absolutely angry and that there was wrong on my side. Because of that, I scrapped that article and started over with this one.
Again, I would have been a lot calmer if we’d been hit by an Asian, a Native American or whatever. But black or Mexican? No, that just enraged me. And by Mexican, I mean all Latinos, but especially Mexicans.
So, for my part, I do apologize to 402, and hopefully he knows that he was in the wrong for not taking a statement or a report. However, I will never apologize for the way I dealt with those awful Mexicans. I stand behind the words I spoke to them and that’s that. If anything, I went light on them!
Given that his direct supervisor actually called and listened, I’m walking away from this knowing that someone listened and promised to speak with the officer. That’s all I wanted. No need to go down a different path.
Also, given that I walked away with this matter being resolved, I am only referring to him by his badge number and not his name. No need to give him bad Google Juice (TM).
My advice when dealing with the APD? Stand up for yourself and keep trying. Sooner or later, someone will listen!