That is why they exist, but you can sometimes get them to cooperate via a war of attrition. Basically, make yourself enough of a nuisance that helping you becomes easier than ignoring you. Don’t start out belligerent, it helps to begin with the imagined assumption that the cops are there to help you, and you are merely there to politely request that help. Eventually they’ll either help, or try to get rid of you. keep calling for followups. If you get a brushoff, ask for a supervisor. repeat as needed.
I haven’t had many run-ins with the law, but I have used this tactic with my local PD, to (eventually) good effect, at least once. It’s exhausting, and it can take a while, but it can work.
In the US, I’m pretty sure this strategy works much better if you’re white, otherwise YMMV.
queerlilhayseed@piefed.blahaj.zone 2 weeks ago
That is why they exist, but you can sometimes get them to cooperate via a war of attrition. Basically, make yourself enough of a nuisance that helping you becomes easier than ignoring you. Don’t start out belligerent, it helps to begin with the imagined assumption that the cops are there to help you, and you are merely there to politely request that help. Eventually they’ll either help, or try to get rid of you. keep calling for followups. If you get a brushoff, ask for a supervisor. repeat as needed.
I haven’t had many run-ins with the law, but I have used this tactic with my local PD, to (eventually) good effect, at least once. It’s exhausting, and it can take a while, but it can work.
In the US, I’m pretty sure this strategy works much better if you’re white, otherwise YMMV.