Police Badge=Monopoly get out of jail free card.
I'm assuming that everyone here has played Monopoly, the game of wheeling and dealing Capitalist style.
If you happen to draw one of those cards in the game, you still end your turn when you are sent to jail, you still don't collect $200 for passing Go. But on your very next turn, you get out of jail without any fine or any lucky throw of the dice to get the requisite Doubles. So the card is very valuable especially if you are hoping to land on and get another property to complete a set.
Today, this card is in full view on the shirts of some of our citizens. It's a Police Badge. If you have one, you get out of jail free. Simple as that.
In San Antonio, a Police Officer held his family at gunpoint, and initiated a standoff with Police who were summoned to the incident. So the penalty for using a gun to hold hostages, and creating a standoff with Police is. (drumroll please) One day of probation, and a whopping fine of $100. Yes, one day of probation. So he shows up at the Probation office and says I'm here, or perhaps he just calls in. Then he's done when the sun rises again.
I've had stricter punishments from my Father for breaking something through careless horseplay. Seriously. When I was a kid some friends and I were screwing around and we broke a neighbors planter. Being kids we fled. Being known we were unable to get clear. When confronted with the incident after a phone call from the neighbors, I got two weeks of restriction (grounded) and lost half my allowance for six months to pay for the planter.
So my participation in breaking a crockery planter resulted in a far more severe penalty than the police officer got for holding his family at gunpoint and initiating a standoff with police. Oh, with this plea deal, he also keeps his Police License, which means even if the San Antonio Police fire him, he can still be a cop in another department. Doesn't that make you feel awesome?
Get out of Jail Free. Funny in a game, disturbing in real life.
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