Friday September 21 – Good Cop … Bad Cop … whatever …

Friday September 21 – Good Cop … Bad Cop … whatever …


I knew I would not be able to sleep on my perch on the hill tonight, but I was uncertain as to the extent of the ban. After dinner at the Salvation Army I made my way up the hill and sat under the shade of the trees, knowing full well that I could not remain there for the night. After about 15 minutes the police Paddy Wagon pulled up in front of me. The officer got out and walked up the drive and over to me. It was the same officer who had given us the warning the night before.

“Didn’t I warn you about being here?” “Yes” I replied, “but I know I cannot stay here, I was only getting out of the sun for a while.” He then asked for my I.D., ran a check and asked if I had any outstanding warrants, to which I replied “No”.

“Well”, he said, “for the time being we are under orders to arrest anyone for virtually any infraction of a town ordinance.” He then explained that last night they made over 50 arrests, for anything as small as smoking in a public park. He explained to me that the “no camping” ordinance is usually not enforced, but things being as they are, they are under orders to.

I told him I know what is going on down at the ARCH and he said that as a result of that the whole downtown area is affected for the next 6 weeks.

I then asked him about sitting on some steps of the side walk that don’t lead to any particular place and he told me as long as they don’t block the side walk and if they are on private property and no one objects it is O.K.. He then explained that “camping” could be defined as sitting on the ground with something that belongs to you sitting next to you. Obviously I this this could be over turned in court, with a decent lawyer, but that wasn’t the point. These are the criteria he has to apply in enforcing the laws as he has been ordered. But it’s enough information to use to stay out of trouble and out of court.

He said “You don’t appear to be looking to cause any trouble, and you’ve had more warnings than most.” He returned my I.D. and started down the hill. “Thanks man”, I said and went to sit on my steps, newly sanctioned.

I will be expanding my search for new night spots. I found one last night and viewed a few possibilities, I know there are more. It just means time and effort to explore them out. I have some new walking shoes coming next week (courtesy of my sister), they will be put to good use.

I am now sitting on my steps on 8th street between Neches and Trinity, facing south. A police cruiser pulls up across the street near to the corner of Trinity. I hear foot steps behind me and I move to the side to allow whoever it is to pass. A cop is standing behind me. “Did you see a phone fall out of a car here?” he asks, not once looking at me, but intent in his gaze on the street. “No”, I slowly and with certain meekness replied. He runs on toward Trinity and the cruiser heads on west up 8th street.

So I’m sitting on my steps and it had just turned dark, I don’t mean dusk, but night dark. Two officers on foot walk up to me. “You know you can’t be sitting there”, a young Hispanic officer tells me. I explained to him that the first officer had said it would be O.K. and we get into a short exchange about what was permissible. He relaxes a bit and tells me of all the troubles with the homeless who think they can do whatever they want.

“Well, I’m not looking for any trouble” I tell him.

“You can sit on the benches on …”

“Well, I’m going down to Red River and head north”.

“Out of downtown?”

“Yeah”.

“Well, you’re smarter than most.”

And I headed on my way to Red River and north, out of downtown.

I really think the young cop was bull shitting me, but I wasn’t about to get into a match flexing intellectual muscles, that would be sure to get my ass thrown in jail. I believe he had orders to clear the streets and he was trying to do it and still avoiding a confrontation. And neither did I want a confrontation, not at this stage of the game anyway. But, I still think he was full of shit and bravado.