Like this......I was on patrol one morning in the summer. I had been working day shift to cover for guys on vacations. There is a small town of about 1000 people in the County I was assigned to patrol. I get a call from the 911 operator to go to the Cointy Park and see a Mrs. Jones for a civil issue.
When I pulled in, I notice some boys about 14-16 playing basketball and some toddlers playing on the swings and see-saws. I saw a lady about 55 waving at me, so I walked over to her as she was also walking towards me. I asked her if she was the person that phoned 911 and she said she was. That’s when I also learned that she was the child’s Grandmother. So, I asked her “What’s up?”
She told me that the boys were smoking and yelling profanity at each other. She added that when she went up to speak with them and ask them to tone it down, 2 of them directed their profanity at her. When I asked her what they said, she told me that she wouldn’t repeat it, but would write it down, which she did after I gave her paper and a pen.
I told her that according to a recent lawsuit by the ACLU, the police are no longer able to issue citations for swearing in public. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled that it is legal and anyone’s constitutional right to do that, unless it’s considered profanity or threatening. The boys did yell the ‘F’ word several times. I asked her if there were any witnesses besides the children. There was another fellow just leaving the park who was walking his dog and according to her, he had to have heard their swearing.
I drove down to where he was standing with his dog and was able to speak with him. To my surprise, he admitted to hearing the boys and also the profanity. I then asked him if he would be willing to testify in court if the boys were to plead not guilty. Again, to my surprise, he agreed to honor my request.
I went and spoke to the boys. These boys were as cocky as they come. I asked them if they did what they were being accused of. They all said that they never said or yelled any swear words, but in a way that I would have liked to slap the crap out of them. Then, one of the boys starts giving me crap and swearing with profanity at me. I just let him go until he was done and then I cuffed him and put him in my car. I asked the other boys for their ID’s and left.
They were all issued citations for $250.00, plus costs. The kid that I put in my car received two fines for a total of $500.00.
but Google is your friend
