This is similar to people getting pulled over for having Grateful Dead stickers on their cars. I don't have a sticker on my new car, but I do have my college sticker on my car. I was pulled over once and got off because my school has a religious sounding name even though it is not religious.

Good answer. My father is a retired Deputy Sherriff and despised working traffic, but usually made the best of it. He wasn't a huge stickler about speeding (cops speed quite a bit, even off duty) and typically wouldn't ticket people for small offenses ("california" or rolling stops, not signaling, tail/headlights being out, etc.) unless there was some other danger involved. But he often got accused of racial profiling, being a white cop in a city with a large Black and Hispanic population. Occasionally, when accused of racial profiling, he would respond, "yes, I was profiling you," but only because he was patrolling and watching for suspects for a particular crime. When he would explain why, people would usually understand, especially when he would say "but you don't fit the description now that I'm talking to you."

Most people tend to be understanding of cops when they realize that they're just doing their jobs. As much as it sucks that people have to profile people by race, sex, age, Greek affiliation or whatever, it makes me feel a lot safer that they do. And it sucks that Greeks get such a bad reputation, but sometimes it is deserved and we all know that not everyone affiliated with a Greek organization is completely innocent. Next time you get pulled over for having a Greek org. sticker or license plate frame, politely ask (after getting a ticket or being dismissed) the officer if it had anything to with you being pulled over. Most officers will tell the truth and if they don't, let it go. And if the officer is a jerk, report him/her. No sense in letting behavior like that continue.

a friend of mine who pledged Phi Sig last semester was pulled over and let go because the cop happened to notice the lettered bottle opener on his key ring--it's nice to have a local cop as an alumnus

I didn't mean all blacks. Obviously it is an issue for some. And the rest of my post about combining the Greek thing with being black was a joke.

-Rudey

And up here in Philly the issue is Greek Picnic! ;)

this is true!
 

i TOTALLY agree...

As a Police Officer, I would be more lenient with Greeks unless they were totally screwed up and became asses.

Then there would be a Problem for sure!!

BUT, around College Towns, Yepper could be a Big Problem because of the Reps that Greeks have.

Last time We had a Party in the Front Yard, Sea Food Boil, the Local COPs came by every 20m Min. I just smiled and waved, most of us there were older than they were anyway!:D

I am from Philly. Frankly, its mostly the hangers on and wannabees that start the mess on the fringes of the Philly Greek.

Absolutely!

Your post is an excellent one.

However, just as in any profession, there are a few jerks in law enforcement.

Our middle daughter was stopped once and the Deputy Sheriff was a absolute a$$hole to her.

I knew the County Sheriff slightly through my job at a local TV station and wrote him a letter.

I got an immediate call from the deputy's Sergeant and then a Leiutenant. I told them that I wasn't looking for any punishment to be administered, but hoped that they could make the guy realize that his attitude really hurt police/high school student relations.

Thanks for the compliment.

I definitely agree with you- there are MANY jerks and even some criminals in law enforcement. I think you took the right approach with the situation your daughter encountered- I would have done the same thing if I had been in that situation and my father would have done the same. There is no excuse for inappropriate behavior with any profession (hello, ethics?) and it takes a lot to be able to stand up to those who enforce the law. I'm hoping the people you spoke to regarding that sheriff's actions were understanding and did something about it.

Something similar happened to me. My car was stolen from campus and they found it in Rockford, IL in a swamp. The police in Beloit told me that I must have did it and walked home (20miles) and was just afraid to tell my parents. I put him on the phone w/my mom becuase I was too upset to talk to him and he told her that all young women lie, he knew his daughter did. I got my dad to call the police dept and yell at them.

Reality is though. If the police are known to target Greeks, why put the sitcker on your car? It is like wearing your shoes through the metal detector, ya you are technically allowed to do it, but it is a pain in the ass afterwards, so you make it simple and don't wear your shoes (or the Greek letters). No one has ever suffered because they didn't put a Greek letter sticker on their car.

To be fair, I'm white and have no stickers at all on my car, and probably get pulled over twice a month.

Sooo, how's your driving?

(Sorry, I had to ask.)

What kind of car do you drive?