Despite what the media shows you, people and police offers can peacefully co-exist. Not to say there aren’t officers and people who break the rules because there are.
But, there are probably more who don’t and try to do the right thing than there are who end up doing the wrong thing.
One Arizona man went out of his way to applaud the professionalism of some officers that he encountered.
Steven Hildreth Jr., who is a member of the National Guard, explained in an October 2015 Facebook post that he was pulled over by Tucson police for driving with a headlight out.
In his post, Hildreth explains that even though he was carrying a weapon which he notified the officer of, the officer treated him with respect.
Hildreth makes accusations that certain social movements, alluding to Black Lives Matter, would say that he would be dead right now because police “are allegedly out to kill minorities” which he calls “bunk.”
Hildreth, however, had a military ID and police officers and military officers share the same government/authoritative brotherhood.
So, likening himself to other black individuals, like Philando Castile, who were killed by police to make the claim that accusations of police brutality are “bunk” doesn’t take into account his privilege of being a member of the military.
He clearly shows his bias allegiance with the hashtags #BlueLivesMatter and #AllLivesMatter.
Either way, Hildreth wanted to give a shout out to the police officers who do choose to follow protocol and de-escalate potentially dangerous situations.
Here’s his post in its entirety:
“So, I’m driving to my office to turn in my weekly paperwork. A headlight is out. I see a Tucson Police Department squad vehicle turn around and follow me. I’m already preparing for the stop.
The lights go on and I pull over. The officer asks me how I’m doing, and then asks if I have any weapons.
‘Yes, sir. I’m a concealed carry permit holder and my weapon is located on my right hip. My wallet is in my back-right pocket.’
The officer explains for his safety and mine, he needs to disarm me for the stop. I understand, and I unlock the vehicle. I explain that I’m running a 7TS ALS holster but from the angle, the second officer can’t unholster it. Lead officer asks me to step out, and I do so slowly. Officer relieves me of my Glock and compliments the X300U I’m running on it. He also sees my military ID and I tell him I’m with the National Guard.”
“Lead officer points out my registration card is out of date but he knows my registration is up to date. He goes back to run my license. I know he’s got me on at least two infractions. I’m thinking of how to pay them.
Officers return with my Glock in an evidence back, locked and cleared. “Because you were cool with us and didn’t give us grief, I’m just going to leave it at a verbal warning. Get that headlight fixed as soon as possible.”
I smile. “Thank you, sir.”
I’m a black man wearing a hoodie and strapped. According to certain social movements, I shouldn’t be alive right now because the police are allegedly out to kill minorities.
Maybe…just maybe…that notion is bunk.
Maybe if you treat police officers with respect, they will do the same to you.
Police officers are people, too. By far and large, most are good people and they’re not out to get you.”
“I’d like to thank those two officers and TPD in general for another professional contact.
We talk so much about the bad apples who shouldn’t be wearing a badge. I’d like to spread the word about an example of men who earned their badges and exemplify what that badge stands for.
#BlueLivesMatter #AllLivesMatter
[EDIT: In my rush to post, I accidentally omitted that my wallet was in the back-right pocket, near my firearm. This was the primary motivation for temporary disarmament. The post has been modified to reflect that.
Again, I’d like to thank the TPD and their officers for their consistent professionalism, courtesy, and the good work that they do, both in this particular contact and every day.]”
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