Ask anyone who works in a police control about what is one of their biggest frustrations and they will probably mention the fact that they have to handle ’emergency’ calls which could never really be construed as an ’emergency’.
The sort of calls where a bit of human decency would resolve a situation rather than adults resorting to acting like adolescent teenagers in a school playground.
And ask any police officer, regardless of where in the world they serve, what one of their biggest frustrations is, and they will probably tell you that its having to go and ‘investigate’ time-wasting ’emergency’ calls which have been made by people who really should know better.
Remember, that the police are not allowed to pick-and-choose which calls they go to.
So if a member of the public calls the police for reasons which defy common sense, then it’s the member of the public making the call who needs to be held to account for their actions.
And this phenomenon is not just something that happens in good old Blighty; it happens in police forces all around the world.
One call that was received by the Lawrence Police Department (USA) sticks out as perhaps being one of the most ridiculous ’emergency’ calls which we have read about in recent times (or this week at least).
An officer who dealt with the ’emergency’ call said:
‘T
‘Two unfortunate souls are dispatched to handle it. Keep in mind this is
‘Upon arrival, the first officer finds two cars in a parking lot, we’ll call the drivers Karen and Chad.
‘The cars are facing each other in close proximity. So Karen wants out of the parking lot, Chad wants in. BOTH OF THEM ARE REFUSING TO GET OUT OF THE OTHER ONES WAY.
‘Literally all they have to do is back up.
‘Nay, all ONE OF THEM has to do is back up and the other one can go.
‘By the time we arrive, the great parking lot standoff of 2019 has been going on at least 20 minutes.
‘So Chad says “I got nowhere to go, I can just stay here all night.” But why, Chad? Why don’t you just move? Apparently because this is a principle issue, and because 2019.
‘Ok, let’s try Karen. Maybe Karen can be reasonable. Karen, could you please just back up so Chad can go? “Nope, I’m not moving. He can move.”
‘Karen claims she can’t back up because her vehicle is too large and she will literally crash it. Karen is driving a *mini*van. Mini is emphasised because the van is not particularly large, and if Karen can’t back it up, maybe Karen should refrain from driving.
‘So a sergeant shows up to get more information on this “road rage in progress” call and as soon as he finds out what the issue is nopes out of there like the day old donuts just got set out at the gas station.
‘Ok, listen Chad, this is really a massive waste of our time. Can you just move? “Nope, I didn’t call you guys, she did. I’ll sit here all night if I have to.”
‘Karen, sooo how’s about you move your car now and we can move on with our night? “WHY WONT YOU JUST MAKE HIM MOVE UGH THE POLICE SUCK”
‘First of all, KAREN, we don’t have the legal authority to make either one of you move, this is private property. Second of all, grow up. Third of all, we’re leaving. Have a good night.
‘As far as we know, Chad and Karen are still sitting there. And so concludes the story of the most ridiculous call of 2019 (so far)’
So there we have it. Adults acting like young children is not just a problem that is confined to these shores. It’s a global issue.
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