Driving down the highway on a summer afternoon I was chosen to be pulled over by a patrol car of the local law enforcement agency, (who shall go unnamed!). I had just finished my shift as a security guard at a local shopping mall and was still dressed in full uniform. The police officer told me I had been speeding 10mph over the limit, however upon seeing me in uniform he let me off with a warning saying that we both had more important things to do in regard to our dutiesprotecting the public.
The above story actually happened, the question that arises is should the police officer have let me slide just because I was in a similar line of work to him. We both wear badges, uniforms and carry tools for self defence. We both perform the same tasks to protect the public.
In my time as a security guard I have dealt with various police departments, all of them without question have treated me with the utmost respect for the job that I do. They understand that for the most part we, as security guards, have to put up with a lot of abuse from members of the public that the police don't deal with. Most people know that a security guard has no powers of arrest, search or seizure and so can blatantly defy them without any repercussions. When dealing with a police officer all that changes in regards to attitude and a healthy respect for the consequences of their actionsThe public have an inbuilt respect for a guard in uniform, however this respect only goes so far. The local police departments are well aware of this and have come to admit an admiration for what we go through. It is this admiration that may cut us a little slack when it comes to minor traffic offences. Is it ethical? that is for you to decide. All I know is because of his acknowlegement of my badge and uniform I didn't have to pay a ticket. Is there a brotherhood of the badge?......maybe I'm not telling.