I never did see that guy again. It's been quite a few years but I bet he'll remember me. I remember him.
And I'm thinking the decent humans are too quiet. Is it worth the effort to stand out, just to be shot down? I think enough people see and know there's consequences they don't want to deal with.
About the gawkers: Some do yell and scream, and its not always because they're trying to help. Sometimes it's because they've been watching this violence, only seeing one side of the story, and hating all cops even when what they're doing is what should be happening. Those cops are there to help, so we don't have to. And of course, these days I have to add in the disclaimer that yes, sometimes they fuck up, and other times they're fuck ups.
Super shitty when people are straight up beating one another, because drunk, and all people do is watch, or run in to add in a kick while someone is already down. Treating life like a movie. Cheering like it's a boxing match. And of course, recording it for later.
Some people you just can't forget...ever. Good or bad.
Well that's the thing too, some sketchy shit out there trying to be the good Samaritan, most people are only willing to get burned so many times at the same time the more everyone keeps quiet and turns a blind eye, it's letting it get worse.
I agree some cases they only see one side, I don't feel bad for those that are know criminals and have arrest warrants. But yes, some cops are just shitty. The Lethbrige pd is really fucked. Last year, they beat down an teenage girl in a star trooper costume with a plastic gun and a sign promoting the donair shop with a starwars theme name on may 4th. That was last year, she's not a criminal, sometimes innocent people get the raw deal for nothing. I'm on the fence with the cops, they have their fare share of problems. Another case was an off-duty cop, drove drunk and killed a guy on a bike in Edmonton, he got suspended with pay. So that's a punishment, paid vacation. I get sometimes they just made the wrong call or the public over-reacts to cops actually doing their jobs but there still many shady things and there is more bad cops than people realize.
"and all people do is watch, or run in to add in a kick " - I know, it's awful, the cheering I don't agree with but like you mentioned, consequences. Like that run in with the gangs I was telling you about after we put the bleeding kid into a cab, I didn't know or care just he was clearly not safe there and it was suppose to be my cab so I packed him in, I didn't see who beat him up or wtf, I just sent him in on his way and little did I know in front of the people that beat him up. That was a messed up night for me and actually what got me to quit drinking, even if I was able to smooth things out over a quick talk over a smoke like a cool cat, I was still pretty close to shitting myself. There are consequences when you try to do good deeds and that's a rough lesson to learn.
The world is fixated on the nasty stuff when it comes to cops. You can find videos of them doing great things as well, but they don't go viral for some strange reason.
Sometimes people record encounters with cops and because they're holding that phone and want to be a star, these people turn into the biggest asshole agitators, antagonizing the cop, trying to get that reaction. They're just people. How much shit are you going to put up with? Someone comes to your place of work and starts treating you like shit. I'll be a jerk in return. Not the smile and nod kinda guy.
Remember in Alberta awhile back, those cops that got sniped on that farm? Take that uniform off and it probably wouldn't happen like that.
I have friends who drive ambulance. They see all the nasty shit this world has to offer. They say good things about the cops. Cops are the first ones there taking care of things, every time. Once they get home, that's when they break down. Like I said how the truth hurts both ways. Hand someone a speeding ticket. They don't do that to feel good. They have to hand someone a piece of paper with the truth on it, and be treated like scum. That'll fuck with anyone's mind.