To serve and protect

                                                                            
Police officers risk their lives daily for the welfare of the community. We depend on them to protect our lives and property. We expect them to maintain peace, safety and order.

So technically speaking, when I see an officer of the law sitting in his car or behind me as I'm driving down the road, I should be thinking, "Boy I sure feel safe knowing a policeman is in the mist."

But what I'm really thinking is, "Oh crap!" and I immediately look at my speedometer. My heart rate escalates and I start sweating. Then I'm thinking, "Please just turn, don't follow me, don't follow me. " @$#%# he's following me!"

Why is that?

Do you suppose it's because I was racing to my in-laws in the middle of the night after they returned home from vacation with my two very young little boys? They said they could spend the night since they were already sleeping. But I missed them too much. I needed them home.

The officer was understanding, even though I didn't pull over until I was at their house, I had to see the boys first before giving the policeman my information. He didn't ticket me and froze when I gave him a hug of gratitude.

Or do you think it's because I was pulled over for speeding because my third child would not stay in his car seat and was Houdini-ing his way out. The louder he cried the faster I wanted to get where I was going.

I did get a ticket for speeding but was spared the one for not having my child buckled. Yes, Houdini had wiggled his way out of his seat when the kind officer saw him as he peeked through the window.

Officer acting all officer like, "Why isn't your child buckled up?"

Me in a state of hysteria, "Because that's why I was speeding in the first place! You take him, you try to keep him buckled. He won't stay in his seat! He wants to be like his brothers and sit in a booster seat!"

Officer wanting to escape the crazy lady, handed me the reduced speeding ticket and took off. Can you believe he left without my child? Did he think I was kidding?

Or could it be when I crossed a double yellow line to get in the turn lane on my way to my sons guitar lesson.
I kinda went around a cop in the process. He said crossing over a double yellow line is illegal. Ok whatever,
but waiting for him to do the cop thing was making us late. I don't think he appreciated me approaching his window, but you see, I needed to know how long this was going to take.

Since he was planning on giving me a ticket I had my son get out of the car with his guitar and start walking to his lesson, which was just a block away.

The officer took pity on the boy and gave me a warning.
 
I'll spare you  the rest of the stories but at least now you'll understand why I'm so paranoid and my heart skips a beat every time I see a cop.