Summary

Hayes begins by recounting an episode a few years before in which he called the police on a couple arguing near his home. He states that he did not know what law, if any, was being broken by the couple, and instead called the police to “restore order” (16). He further notes that he was unsure if the woman, for whose safety he was concerned, would actually want him to call the police. It is possible that doing so only made her life worse in long-term. This illustrates the fact that Americans have two broadly different experiences with police. First, as a benevolent caretaker of the community. Second, as an aggressive and ominous force, inducing feelings of terror. He states that the only time he experienced this second interaction with the police was when officers found marijuana in his bag as he was entering the...