HE LOOKED AT ME, I LOOKED AT HER AND SHE LOOKED AT THE COP!
I was out covering the scene of an accident on Monday afternoon just at the edge of the Medical Center area. While I was waiting on a statement from the officers there was another cop who walked into a convenience store with me. He seemed to be in his late 40's about to tangle with his 50's. Needless to say, he seemed to be very hot and tired. He had an empty soda cup. As I wrapped up buying my bottled water he stepped up to the counter after me. He asked the attendant if they had ice and water. She said no we don't do refills. Now, while it's not required it is an encouraged courtesy to offer the men and women who protect your city at least some free water. That didn't happen. The woman just stared at the cop. He looked at me, I looked at her and she looked back at him. It was like a stand off. The officer then asked the woman if they had just some water to go in his cup. She enthusiastically replied yes and pointed to all of the bottled water in the coolers. At this point I knew he was waiting on her to say those magical words, "it's free for you officer." Those words said look for me because she told him the price. People I'm telling you this officer was stunned. He had to be thinking this woman doesn't know the rules, officers get their water free. It was yet another stand off. The woman just stared at the officer again. He looked at me again. Ok, this was too exciting for me that's why I just hung around to see what would happen. I knew I'd blog about it. But back to the store now. The officer was dumbfounded the woman didn't offer a single solitary eye drop of water for free. Finally, he just walked out. He wasn't upset just shocked that he didn't get his water free. So, to help me with my future speeding tickets I offered the officer my water. He turned it down but he joked about the ordeal saying he'd never seen that kind of lack of courtesy to an officer before. Should she have given him a water or was it his duty to buy it? The Insite would like to hear your opinion!
she should have given him free water from the fountain - but should insist on a clean cup for health reasons. i could understand not giving out a free bottle, but how much does a styrofoam cup cost these days!
ReplyDeleteI agree with Anon - she should have given him some water. You don't want to piss off a cop, especially when you work in a high crime job like a convenience store!
ReplyDeleteAt the same time, the cop shouldn't have expected it. Free water is a nice thing to get, but even if it's just water, a cop asking for something for free sounds kinda borderline unethical.
Sticky situation.. Cops like all the other 22,000 city employess according to mayor white are not supposed to accept any gifts of any amount and he made it pretty clear last Christmas when a memo reminding employees of this practice was sent to all employees
ReplyDeleteI personally think its courtesty that should be extended to the officers but also those Public work guys be out there sweating their asses off fixing busted pipes and even the firefighters. yet they have to pay for their water and certainly don't get free coffee, and juice at ANY convience store.
As a fellow officer, I am upset. He should know better than to expect something for free. If it was offered, then fine. If not, suck it up and pay. Whats a bottled water cost anyway? She could have offered to fill his cup from the faucet though. That would have been nice.
ReplyDeleteHe should've tased her. 8^P
ReplyDeleteCops shouldn't expect to get anything for free. If it's offered then Hydee Hoe. And don't give me that he risk his life to protect us BS. he get's paid $40+/hr + pensions and benefits. It's the profession that he chose to get into. The lady behind the counter has a better chance of being robbed and killed than the dude in blue sitting behind a squad car all day. people are trying to run business, if she gives this person something for free then why can't the next person get it for free too? the fact that you work for the city shouldn't change that. why should a firefighter be extended free courtesy just for walking in after a shift and he wants a bottle of water. volunteer or not, hes just another customer. i like HFD. don't get me wrong.
ReplyDeleteI am officer and I don't expect anything for free nor do I take anything for free. Likewise, when I eat out on duty, I always get it to go because I don't offer free security either. I rather go eat at my station with my co-workers.
ReplyDeletemost convenient stores like it when a cop makes a visit- it's always comforting to see a cop in the store. let's face it- convenient stores are pretty rough places and get robbed a lot. if the store doesn't want them hanging around then screw them- it's not like asking for water or ice is going to break the bank.
ReplyDeleteThis lady is someone who never needed a cop. If she did she would have been more than happy to give the officer a bottle of cold water.
ReplyDeleteJust let her keep working at this convenience store, and one day having some fool put a gun in her face, she will have a sign in front of the store offering FREE WATER FOR COPS.
asian store clerk aint going to give up that free bottle of water that shes gonna be held accountable for at the end of the night. It hard for them to even let you have some free air for you tire....
ReplyDeleteHell i bought a bag of corn nuts that were 2 weeks past their due date but do you think she was gonna take em back.. naaa.. so i just simply quietly distracted her and grabbed a fresh bag.. lol
TIMES IS HARD!!!
ReplyDeleteFYI,
ReplyDeleteThe store clerk wasn't Asian. She was Hispanic. This is a response to Jolo's comments.
The Insite
Look here... free ain't a guarantee, if you're thirsty buy it.. I think she should have at least let him refill his cup, but er uh, she didn't have to. Hilarious exchange none the less...
ReplyDeleteI dunno. I mean, she is running a business, not a charity. But to the officers, especially if they come there frequently and kind of use the store as a community policing center, should have offered him some kind of courtesy drink.
ReplyDelete