My run in with the cops!

[mugsy]

I worked a game today, so I left school at 4:30 and I'm driving home....I get about 10 minutes from school and I feel the van lurch left and so I pull over and get out and find out I have a flat tire. I call Mike and then the tire place and start trying to find someone to change it....I am too stupid and don't know how to change a tire. I look behind me and there is a cop. He comes up to the window and asks what's wrong. He then proceeds to get the jack out and then tries to figure everything out. He actually stayed there and changed my tire!! I was so impressed. I called the chief of police to tell him how impressed I am.

[Cinder & Smoke]

Originally posted by mugsy
... and there is a cop.

... He actually stayed there and changed my tire!!
I called the chief of police to tell him
how impressed I am.

Gud On'ya, Molly!!

Calls like THAT are REALLY Appreciated -
by both the Chief *and* the Officer who helped you!

[Felicia's Mom]

That didn't turn out like I thought it. I thought you would be accused of something you didn't do.

[Karen]

Oh, Mugsy, how lucky you were. Nice guy! By the way, I can tell you weren't brought up in MY family. Each one of us, male or female, had to pass the "Dad" Test before we were allowed to go for our Driver's Test at the Registry of Motor Vehicles. The Dad Test included demonstrating:

a. Checking the oil
b. Showing you knew were to put more oil in, if needed
c. Changing the tire
d. Identifying other "fluids" and where to check them - brake fluid, transmission fluid, even windsheild wiper fluid
e. Identification of major engine parts (for example, dad would point to the radiator and say "what's that?" and then move on to other parts

He never wanted any of us to be at a loss by the side of the road with a "simple" problem. Standing orders were, if your car broke down and it was towed to some unknown garage, sit on the hood and don't let anyone touch it until Dad showed up. Never had to test that one, although my first three cars were all 12+ years old when I got them. Smart Dad.

[dukedogsmom]

Hurray for you! I could chance the tire on my car but don't know if I could do it on my truck and certainly not on a van. I'm glad an officer finally has some positive interaction and thanks to you, the chief knows it too. Being a dispatcher myself, I can tell you the good things we hear are few and far between.

[Edwina's Secretary]

Karen....it appears you and I had the same dad! Did you have to draw a transmission too?

[mugsy]

Karen, I can do all of the things on the Dad list, EXCEPT changing the tire! lol

As far as positive interaction....when I called the desk sergeant about who to contact, she said, "You want to do WHAT?!" I started laughing and asked her why she was shocked and she said that most of the calls were about how rude officers are....that's too bad in my opinion.

[captain]

Karen and Edwina - Yup, include me in the Dad test ..........!!

Molly, what a great thing you did. She is right, when you phone the police station, most of the time people expect you to complain!

[Karen]

Originally posted by Edwina's Secretary
Karen....it appears you and I had the same dad! Did you have to draw a transmission too?

I didn't, but that's probably because I could outdraw him, or any of my siblings, by the age of about 8!

P.S. Dad is still available for (re)training folks, just let me know when you can show up at my or his house!

[wolfsoul]

This reminds me of what happened to Jynnelle when she was driving to my house.

The car in front of her was kicking dirt onto her windshield, and her window wipers weren't getting the dirt off. She pulled over and tried to get that little spray thingy to work, but she couldn't figure out how. A cop stops and asks if she needs help. They stand there for a while, trying to firgure out how to get the spray thingy to work. The cop says Jynnelle doesn't have any cleaner left. So she and Jynnelle go into the store and buy some, then they have to try and figure out how to get the cleaner into the car. After doing that for a while, finally some guy asks them if they need help. He does it for them, and all is well. Lol.

[AmberLee]

How uplifting this story is! So great. Thanks for following up with a call, Mugsy and for brightening our day with it!

[CatDad]

I was worried when I read the tittle. I was really happy by the time I got to the end. It is always nice to hear good stories.

Thank you for following up too, usually the only time people call is to complain. That goes for any profession that deals with the public.

My dad made sure that I knew what I was doing before I ever got to drive a car. I think that is a must before you drive.

[lovemyshiba]

Good for you Molly!! (Not that you had a flat, but calling to compliment the officer)

I'm glad to hear things worked out so well.

My "dad test" did not consist of changing a tire, but rather just the fluids and actually paying attention to the "check engine" light if it came on, and not turning up the radio louder if you hear a strange noise coming from the car.

[Miss Meow]

What a great story!

In my last job in the customer service skills course I taught, I used to ask the students for an example of poor customer service they'd received. Every hand in the class would go up, and they could all tell a dozen stories! Then I'd ask for an example of great service, and it would be like pulling teeth ... positive feedback is so rare and I'm sure it'll make that police officer's day when he hears that his work was appreciated

[DoggiesAreTheBest]

Karen, it wasn't my father that made sure I know all that. It was my father in law!! When Andrew went to Fort Rucker and I stayed in Georgia, his dad found out that all I knew how to do with a car was drive it. So, he came up one weekend and told me I needed to know all these things since I would be driving to Ft. Rucker (4 hours away). Never had to use the knowledge he ave me, but sure am glad I know that stuff just in case!

Molly, that was mighty nice of the police officer.