Cops & Money
Does anyone else feel that it is an extreme conflict of interest for cops to call a business (or individuals) asking for money? I understand that a lot of organizations run off of donations and I fully respect that. However, when I receive this phone call about once a month, it makes me a little uneasy. Is it a breach of power? Probably not, but it seems pretty damn close. I feel like I’m getting a shake down.
When I was called for this as an individual, it was easier to say no, I knew they would not track me down and hassle me or I just didn’t care. Is there a star that goes next to my name in the computer for “did not donate to us, don’t be easy on him?” Sure, I’m probably just paranoid as they probably call everyone in the city.
That worry seriously changed when I became a small independent business. Now, I still don’t necessarily want to donate to this cause, but I just simply don’t have the money to donate to something like that. Sure, I’ll give a gift certificate to a school fundraiser or something like that, but giving cash that I could use to the cops, hmmm…I dunno. Let’s wait until I’m making the big bucks and I can get that cool sticker to put on the back of my hummer that says “I support Durham cops.” Then I’ll be able to raise all the hell I want in town. It’s like a get outta jail free pass, right?
Now that they have my full name, my work number and my work address, it freaks the hell outta me. I feel it’s a total abuse of power. Every call I get about this, I get angrier and shorter on the phone with whoever it is because I just can’t donate. When I hang up, I then worry that my name and business get flagged. Will I be lower on the list for response time if I get robbed? Will they make snide remarks as they pass by the shop and try to drive away business. I’m sure I’m paranoid, but hell, it’s a little unnerving to get called by a cop asking for money once a month.
Would you want to support an organization that cat calls girls walking home from bars at 2am? Says things along the lines of - Hey baby, where ya going? I gotta .45 in my car, wanna see it? Ummm…seriously? Screw that. Do I want to support an organization that shoves my friends’ faces into the trunk of their car for “trespassing”??
But then do I get nervous when I say no to an organization like this that knows where my business is? Shit.
(listen to the new King Louie and the Loose Diamonds that came out yesterday on Empty Records, it’s amazing.)