[Abercrombiemom]

This past weekend I was harassed endlessly by police in my town-for a garbage can!! My neighbor called the police and told them my garbage can was a few inches on her property, which it was not but I was not given a chance to prove it. So then tenants downstairs (best friends with neighbor) told the police I unplugged their chest freezer in the basement and caused them to lose food. I did NOT unplug the freezer and there was no proof that I did. The officer actually went to my mother's house and told her I unplugged the freezer and that I had issues and all these other accusations. I am almost 40 years old, college educated, good job, single mom and I have never been arrested or in any legal trouble So then the cop comes back and tells me to my garbage can again! It was only on my property and wasn't in anyone's way, then he actually threatened to arrest me for my garbage can! What is going on this world? I asked him what would I be arrested for and he told me, "Don't worry about it" and sped off. All of this over a garbage can. Last month the tenants downstairs yelled at my daughter and threatened to call the police because she screamed when a spider was on her arm. We ignored her and called the police and told them they are yelling at my innocent 14-year-old. Two weeks before that, my daughter was going into the house and the man downstairs jumped up from his couch to come running out and give her nasty looks, I jumped out of the car to get her away from him, he actually looked like he would kill her. So, in both of these instances I called the police because I was afraid for my daughter, and you know what they said?? Sorry, we can't do anything about that because it was just "borderline" harassment. These cops will do NOTHING to protect my daughter and me, but they will harass me over a garbage can. It's very important to note that I live in a predominately white neighborhood, but my daughter is Black, and I believe these cops are racist. What should I do?

[JudyKayTee]

Report the actions of the Police to the Police Commissioner - or the civilian panel that oversees the Police, if your Town has such a thing - or retain an Attorney if you believe you have been damaged.

[ballengerb1]

Move or call the NAACP, you are in a bad "predominately white neighborhood". The potential for racism is just as high for police as for store clerks, firemen, etc... people are peole and not all good and you will not change them.

[Abercrombiemom]

Report the actions of the Police to the Police Commissioner - or the civilian panel that oversees the Police, if your Town has such a thing - or retain an Attorney if you believe you have been damaged.

Do you think I have a good case to file? I am NOT looking for money, just justice

[JudyKayTee]

Depends on where you want to file it - you can only sue for money, not for justice.

If you mean reporting this behavior, that's the way to obtain justice.

[Abercrombiemom]

Depends on where you want to file it - you can only sue for money, not for justice.

If you mean reporting this behavior, that's the way to obtain justice.

I tried reporting his behavior to the chief-and guess what he said? He said he believes the cop over me and I need to get my story straight!

[Abercrombiemom]

I should mention to, I haven't eaten or slept in 3 days, and I so afraid of being accused of something that I don't leave my house after returning home from work-I even stopped walking my dog!

[JudyKayTee]

Then you apparently have no choice but to retain an Attorney and pursue a case for infliction of emotional stress - or something similar.

[Abercrombiemom]

I live in a small town and I think the repercussions of filing suit would be more than I could handle, I really just want these cops to understand what they are doing-something I need to add, there was garbage on the ground-smelly old meat! -It didn't belong to me-but the cop actually made my daughter pick it up with her bare hands-she had NOTHING to do with this! That's why I am just devastated over this-she's only 14 years old and he had NO right to do this-am I correct?

[JudyKayTee]

This is, unfortunately, a legal question ask and answer board.

There is nothing you can do to make the Police understand anything. You can report them if they are out of line.

We can give you moral support but as far as what to do - you've received the answers.

[Abercrombiemom]

Thank you very much!! I am just distressed right now, but I feel I need to put in a complaint because degrading my daughter like that was just too much for me. Thank you for your time and patience, If I can be of any help please ask.

[JudyKayTee]

Just come back and let us know how this works out for you -

You've explained the situation very well, taken all suggestions - hope it works out.

[Abercrombiemom]

Thank you very much!

[excon]

Hello A:

You are NOT going to change the cops behavior. All you're going to do is piss them off to the point where they'll retaliate on YOU. The law is there to PROTECT you, but you apparently don't want to do that. If you keep on complaining WITHOUT ANY legal protection whatsoever, I think you'll make things worse.

Judy gave you good information.

excon

[Abercrombiemom]

Move or call the NAACP, you are in a bad "predominately white neighborhood". The potential for racism is just as high for police as for store clerks, firemen, etc... people are peole and not all good and you will not change them.

Thanks for the advice-her are the statistics on races for my town

White Non-Hispanic: 96.4%
Hispanic: 0.7%
Black: 1.3%
American Indian: 0.1%
Asian: 0.4%
Some Other Race: 0.1%
Two or More Races: 1.2%

[Abercrombiemom]

Hello A:

You are NOT going to change the cops behavior. All you're going to do is piss them off to the point where they'll retaliate on YOU. The law is there to PROTECT you, but you apparently don't want to do that. If you keep on complaining WITHOUT ANY legal protection whatsoever, I think you'll make things worse.

Judy gave you good information.

excon

I plan on getting legal representation-I was trying to find out if I had a case or not. I left a message with an attorney from New York State Defenders Association. Hopefully she will call me back tomorrow so I can continue to move on with this. Do you think I have a case?

[excon]

Hopefully she will call me back tomorrow so I can continue to move on with this. Do you think I have a case?

Hello again, A:

I do not. That doesn't mean I don't believe you. I absolutely DO. The cops behaved badly - but no worse than MOST cops do. I just don't see a case.

excon

[Abercrombiemom]

Hello again, A:

I do not. That doesn't mean I don't believe you. I absolutely DO. The cops behaved badly - but no worse than MOST cops do. I just don't see a case.

excon

I am still going to fight it-they will NOT make a trip to the neighbors to warn them against harassing my daughter, but they will make 3 trips here to complain about a garbage can! If you read all the threads, you will see that my daughter is one of the few black people in my town, and they won't do anything to protect her

[ohsohappy]

Is moving not an option for you right now?

Even if they might be trying to drive you out, it's no tworth the distress.

I suggest you follow the advice or the others. I'm only in the beginning of my law class right now otherwise I'd know how to handle this. But I hope everything turns out okay for you.
The situation is unfortunate, actually, it just plain sucks. People can be really cruel. =/

[excon]

If you read all the threads, you will see that my daughter is one of the few black people in my town, and they won't do anything to protect her

Hello again, A:

I DID read your threads. I told you that I BELIEVE you. My opinion hasn't changed.

excon