On Halloween I was trying to get across the city via 17th street. I then realized that all the cross streets between 6th and 7th avenue were blocked off for the parade. So I stopped to ask a cop a question.
I should point out that I wasn’t yelling, or in mind asking in a rude tone at any point in this conversation. Uh… until the last line.
Me: “Do you know if 16th street is blocked off too?”
Cop: “I don’t know”
Me: “Well do you know what the next street that is open in either direction?”
Cop: “I DON’T KNOW!”
Me: “Hey, I’m just asking.”
Cop: “And I’m just telling you I DON’T KNOW!”
Me: “I wanted to figure out if I should go uptown or downtown to find an open street.”
Cop: “It’s a fucking free country!”
Me: “What?”
Cop: “It’s a FUCKING free country!”
I point at his partner
Me: “Does he know?”
Cop: “NO!”
Me: “Well thanks for being so fucking polite about it asshole.”
At which point his face got even redder. I walked away and he guarded his police barricade. At 16th street a different cop politely told me which streets were still open.
If that cop was in THAT bad a mood before the parade began I can’t imagine how he ever works his job.
