Mardi Gras

Well, Mardi Gras is coming up in a couple weeksand to be honest, not many police officers are excited about it.  Its a very long and stressful time for us, or, at least most of us.  Long hours, above and beyond the normal work week, and many hours on our feet.  Did I mention that we wear about 25-30 lbs of gear each day?  Walking or standing on a parade route gets old quick.

Here are a few things to think about when you see your local police officer on the parade route:

*  More than likley, he did not volunteer to work the parade and miss out on enjoying it with his family.
*  Its possible that the officer just finished an 8 - 10 hour shift before being forced to work the parade.
*  Officers do not want any of those cheap worthless beads so please do not throw them to or at us.
*  Drunks are not always cute to a sober and tired police officer.
*  As I said earlier, we are wearing a lot of gear and its not easy to bend over to pick up beads.
*  Our job is to keep you and your family safe.  Don't make our job any harder than it already is by putting your children over the baracades to pick up beads from under the float tires!  Plus, when one does it, they all start doing it.
*  I don't know many officers that would mind or be offended by seeing a nice pair of boobs.  Unfortunately, there is always someone in the crowd ready to complain, making us the bad guy.
*  When going to a parade, plan on being stuck in traffic when its over.  Enough said.
*  While at a parade and drinking adult beverages, keep in mind that all that alcohol is going to want to come out sooner than you think.  Plan ahead on finding a bathroom more suitable than a nearby tree or car tire.
*  Do us all a favor, don't buy your kids those long plastic trumpets.  Those things should be illegal!

Ok, well that is all for now.  Back to work.