Welp, I just had an entirely pleasant runin with the NYPD.

[sir pball]

Not even kidding.

We had a long night at work - not bad at all, but the kind of service that leaves one with a well-deserved thirst. It simmered on the walk to 59th and the train ride home; by the time I got off I wanted some beer in a bad way. So I hit up my deli, grabbed some tallboys and moseyed on out. Decided to crack one on the two-block walk home, as I've done a thousand times before. In a bag, of course. Kept my eyes open and my head moving, always watching...dismissed the marked SUV with lights on, rightfully so as he passed me by with the engine screaming. All good for a split-second till that plain silver Impala going north (I was walking S) jams on the brakes and flicks on the undercover lights.

FUCK.

Two young guys in blue wave me over. I walk up, the one in the passenger seat says "What's in the bag?" I sheepishly admit Beer and pull the half-empty can out...he says "Don't empty it, just put it down and give me your ID." I do so and they start running it and whatnot. He cheerfully says "Just off work Chef?" (I had my knife bag), I say yes, he nods and asks why I'm not at the bar. I say the deli is way cheaper...and he smiles, hands me a $25 mail-in ticket and says "Even with this, you're right. Let us get a block away and finish it. Thanks for being a gentleman, have a good night."

For all the talk about Police Are The Enemy and Never Ever Cooperate, I've found when it's a fair cop, being polite and honest is a damn good idea.

[NYC_SKP]

1. I'm glad they were nice.

I'm sad that you were, sort of, stopped and frisked.

The years I lived in NY, which included mayors Koch and Dinkins, I don't know if they'd have stopped a person for a beer in a bag.

I mean, that's what the bag is FOR!

[sir pball]

2. Back then they did have more important things to look for.

I'm actually thankful that in my precinct they do have the time to bust me for beer, the guns and rape are such a nonissue. I won't be nasty if I'm legitimately doing something wrong, even as small as a beer - what the hell, I knew going in it was a $25 mail-in. No point in escalating.

Though I could have well been carrying, they didn't bother to actually get out of the car or anything.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

3. What a great story!

We need to hear these.

I'm glad they were good to you; you deserved no less.

Cheers!

[sir pball]

4. Cheers indeed!

I had a couple more beers in my backpack...which are now gone

Honestly, I've never had an issue with the po-9. I've always been legitimately caught doing something wrong and at that point there's no reason to be anything other than honest. I know I'm smarter than they are, and I think they realize it too, so we have our little repartee and I leave with my ticket or whatever. Then again I'm a lily-white WASP from CT.