The difference in the pre and post entitlement generations was best summed up by a cop in Florida: when discussing the volunteer policing/community watch programs in his district, he noted that the Greatest and Silent Generation people are a huge help, because they step up and volunteer to be the eyes and ears of the community. The Boomers complain that they're paying a fortune in taxes, and that the police should do the job themselves.
James,
Twas the day after a white Christmas where I didn't go to jail for beating one of the persons who stole about $10K worth of stuff out of my loft on the Southside of Williamsburg.
Two of my guitars were missing and I went to the local music store after we dealt with the police to give my friends there the heads up. My friend Dave said, "Funny thing is a guy who is a local just came in and asked if we buy guitars, and when I asked what type he couldn't say, but he pointed to a Telecastor to indicate which guitar he had. He said he would be right back so if you want to hang around..."
It was not the Christmas spirit that made me go home, but because of my girlfriend on her account I decided to go home. I know myself, I know how my rage can spill out of control, but I told Dave to just call the police and not to be a hero, and I walked home. What expired is that the guy showed up, the police came, but the guy ran right by the two cops through a narrow hallway where it was easy for them to stop him. Dave even yelled, "Stop him, he's the guy," but the police did not respond. Outside the blizzard had made the wet snow into compressed ice, and the police decided not to attempt to pursue the suspect on foot. All this happened in about 10-15 minutes, the amount of time required to walk home; and when I got home, I was summoned to head back to the music store.
I ended up recovering one of my guitars that was stolen. Over the period of a year that followed I ended up becoming inadvertently a private investigator because I continually fed clues to my detective that led to the arrest of three suspects: two were brothers and another a cousin that had many priors and rap sheets. An order of protection was issued, but my gal had to testify, and "Maggie" was again victimized, and the end result was a plea bargain, no restitution, and drug rehab for a criminal with a long history. These three loser crack heads were found to be responsible for a total of 25 break-ins in my neighborhood.
We never recovered any of Maggie's grandmother's jewelry, but about a year and a half after the robbery I discovered a set of speakers that were mine thrown out with blown speakers a few blocks from where I lived. It took about 6 months to collect insurance, but this was not without being accused of fraud by an insurance company. Even getting a police report presented difficulties, where I had to ask my detective to fax me one as a favor, because going down to the precinct in person and filling out the form just didn't work.
BTW when the crime investigation team came it was not at all like on TV, no high tech, no extensive effort, and in my case no clues. The initial police report failed to mention the forced entry, and the police only checked our neighbor's duplex because we suggested that they should because of all the footprints in the fresh snow that made it likely that there was more than one robbery had happened. It seems that our neighbor literally had his entire duplex emtied of valuables, and we luckily were only given the quick once over.
Dealing with the insurance company for me was like getting robbed a second time. Although I had a policy for full replacement cost, I was only paid $6K for the $10 K that We were entitled to. (Jewelery was not covered)
Sorry for the rant, but I don't think much of the level of professionalism by the police, nor the justice system. It is not at all like on TV.
Cal
