HOW DOES IT FEEL TO BE A COP IN BROOKLYN?

I DON'T KNOW. I CAN ONLY IMAGINE....WHEN I SEE THEM
WALKING DOWN THE AVENUE, IN GROUPS OF 3,4 OR 5. FRESH
FROM ROLL CALL, I SMILE AND SAY HELLO.
I HAVE NOTICED THAT AS THEY WALK DOWN THE STREET, NOBODY SPEAKS TO THEM, NOBODY EVEN LOOKS AT THEM.
(IN MY NEIGHBOR HOOD) THEY ARE INVISIBLE UNTIL THEY
ARE NEEDED...I WOULD FEEL PRETTY ROTTEN IF THE PEOPLE
OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT I PROTECT WOULDN'T EVEN
NOD OR SAY HELLO, GOOD MORNING, HOW'S IT GOING,
SOMETHING.....

IT IS THE SAME  WITH THE FIRE FIGHTERS. THEY COME IN THE
SUPERMARKET TO GET GROCERIES. FOUR GUYS WALK IN
AND THEY WOULDN'T SPEAK TO ANYBODY (BUT EACH OTHER)
OR EVEN LOOK AT ANYBODY EXCEPT THE CHECKOUT GIRL.
IT USED TO MAKE ME ANGRY....I THOUGHT, THEY WALK  IN
HERE AND SHOP AND THEIR FOOD (AND SALARIES) ARE PAID
FOR BY THE TAXPAYERS (ME) ....AT LEAST YOU GUYS COULD
SAY HELLO TO THE PEOPLE THAT PAY FOR YOUR MEALS......

THEN I SAW THAT NOBODY SPOKE TO THEM....NOBODY EVEN
LOOKED AT THEM...THEY ARE INVISIBLE UNTIL THEY ARE
NEEDED....SO, ONE DAY I DECIDED TO SAY HELLO AND THE
GUYS WERE STARTLED, BUT THEY SPOKE BACK....IT WAS EASY.
THEY JUST DIDN'T FEEL WELCOME.

SAME STORY WITH THE POLICE OFFICERS, WHEN I SPEAK TO
THE 3 OR 4 OF THEM, 2 WILL SAY HELLO BUT THE OTHER 2 WILL
JUST LOOK AT ME....THEY ARE JUST NOT USED TO IT.....
BUT IT FEELS GOOD TO ME TO LET THEM KNOW THAT I
RESPECT THEM, THE BADGE AND THE UNIFORM.......



                                       RONALD J LAMB