One Good Cop

[easysurfer]

So, while driving back home on the interstate today, I look over to my left and see this car stopped with a flashing police car next to it. At first, I thought someone got a speeding ticket but upon further inspection, I see that the car had a flat tire and this burly looking officer was helping get the flat tire off as two scrawny looking guys where standing by watching.

My first thought was, that's nice to see. My second thought was, "Is the police going out of his way to help out, even with the tire changing?" I seen that before, a police officer actually helping with the changing. Also, at times, I've seen an officer parked, sitting in the squad car while the car's owner is trying to change a flat.

 

[aaronc879]

I think the goal is to get the disabled vehicle off the side of the road as soon as possible. If the owner knows how to do it then the officer can just park behind the vehicle to let on coming traffic knows there's a problem. If the occupants of the vehicle don't know how to change a tire then the officer will do what's needed to get the car of the side of the road. Just part of their job.

 

[veremchuka]

These 2 were so inept that he was doing it to get them off the road side? I've seen a cop do it for a woman but 2 guys?

 

[aaronc879]

These 2 were so inept that he was doing it to get them off the road side? I've seen a cop do it for a woman but 2 guys?

Why would gender make any difference. If someone needs help, you help them.

 

[veremchuka]

I think most guys would have a basic understanding of how to change a flat tire. I did and I wasn't someone that was working on cars day and night. I mean we aren't discussing rebuilding a transmission but I know some don't know how.

 

[braumeister]

I think most guys would have a basic understanding of how to change a flat tire.

I think it's safe to say that most members here (and most of the people we each know) are well on the high side of the bell curve in terms of IQ. It's easy to forget, but for every one of us there is someone on the other side.

 

[rodi]

Disclaimer - I'm female.
I have women friends who are very smart - execs, teachers, sales types... all very successful and competent. But would miss some of the basics on tire changing... Things like loosening the lug nuts before you jack up the car. Where the jack is and how to use it. Where the spare or donut tire is.

I know a few men who would also be clueless... but fewer of them.

This is an area where there is definitely a gender gap of experience and knowledge. Women can change tires, but many may not know the basics to make it an easy process.

 

[LOL!]

Cops have changed a flat for me before. Two patrol cars immediately came to assistance after a high-speed blow-out of a 12-passenger van tire on the freeway. Everybody was safe, but it was scary at first.

 

[aaronc879]

I think it's safe to say that most members here (and most of the people we each know) are well on the high side of the bell curve in terms of IQ. It's easy to forget, but for every one of us there is someone on the other side.

High overall intelligence isn't going to do much good with changing a tire if you've never done it before. My brother wouldn't have a clue how to change a tire because he's never done it even though he's the smart brother with a IQ probably 30 points higher than mine. I've rotated my own tires with a jack several times so I could do it even with an IQ under 100.

 

[Bestwifeever]

Maybe the cop was putting a boot on the tire instead of changing it.

 

[freebird5825]

One GREAT Constable On Patrol

Police have my greatest respect.

I'm in a storytelling mood...

After my husband passed, I slept terribly. I finally got a stretch of sleep one night...and was awakened by a flashlight shining into my 2nd story bedroom window. Freaked me out.
After the initial surprise....it turns out that a friend from HS, living in NJ, had called my house 2 or 3 times, but I was soundly asleep.
So she called her local police, who relayed a message across state borders from/to the respective State Troopers to my local Sherriff Dept. She was afraid I was unable to answer the phone (burglars or such).
I had an official visitor.
The officer talked with me for about 45 minutes. I assured him I was OK. When he needed to get back on road patrol, he backed out of my driveway and miscalculated the turn. The squad car ended up in the shallow ditch and knocked my mailbox over.
He had to call his supervisor. The super showed up and listened to the whole story from the younger cop. It was a sight to behold.
All of a sudden I just laughed my head off. I told the two Sherriffs that I was in need of a good laugh, and excuse me guys, but you just gave me that.
They fixed the mailbox, stomping the base back in place. The super offered to fill out paperw*rk for a full replacement, etc etc.
I just told them it was all well worth it. The mailbox was fine, just tipped over.
It also turned out that the younger cop [-]mailbox assassin[/-] was the nephew of my adopted brother [-]no mutual DNA[/-], a friend of 30 years.

Full circle and all that jazz.

Still awake out there ?

 

[Nords]

Why would gender make any difference. If someone needs help, you help them.

Yes, but if a guy doesn't know how to change a tire then he has to surrender his man card at the nearest weightlifter's gym, barber shop, or sports bar.

 

[scrabbler1]

I know how to change a tire, and have done it a few times over the years. But one time, I could not loosen the lug nuts on the flat tire. It was in the winter (probably contributed to the lug nuts getting stuck) and I was near my home (thankfully) so all I lost was a date with a woman I was not so crazy about LOL! A tire repair center was pretty close by, too, so when they were open I slowly drove there.

 

[brewer12345]

Heh, many moons ago my eldest daughter had grabbed the phone and was amusing herself by dialing random numbers. Since the phone was not on "send", DW let her do it. 30 minutes later, a cop showed up at the door. Evidently even if you dial "911" in a string of numbers, it registers. He was polite about it once he made sure there was no dirty work afoot.

I was hunting in a state park today and was ready to move to a new spot so I headed back to my truck, parked at the visitor center lot. A couple rangers pulled up in their truck. After checking my license and whatnot, the senior guy sheepishly told me that they were having problems with squirrels in the attic of the visitor center and they would appreciate it if I helped reduce the squirrel popluation in the trees by the building (not normally open to hunting). With squirrels practically doing cartwheels in the branches, I was happy to oblige the good Coorado state park rangers. I also gave them some tips on how to deal with the infestation since I had the same problem in the house in the past.

 

[CCdaCE]

That's at least good reason for clippin' a corner off the Rangers' man card as a warning for possible full removal of said man card.



But, I suppose the Rangers can't be seen harming the [-]nuisance[/-] fuzzy wildlife. We'll let it slide, this time.

-CC

 

[Walt34]

I changed tires for women sometimes (retired police officer here) when they were either in a location conducive to causing accidents or clearly not in position to shell out the cash for a tow truck.

Men never asked me to change it but I would stay there and block that lane so they wouldn't be hit from behind.

On the interstates in the DC area though we never changed tires because it was simply too dangerous. Call a tow truck and get that thing out of there.

 

[brewer12345]

That's at least good reason for clippin' a corner off the Rangers' man card as a warning for possible full removal of said man card.



But, I suppose the Rangers can't be seen harming the [-]nuisance[/-] fuzzy wildlife. We'll let it slide, this time.

-CC

The funny thing was that from casual chatting wth them I know they are both hunters.

From what I saw, they did not need help from a few random squirrel hunters. They needed a free afternoon, an accurate rifle, and a 500 round box of .22 shells. One of the reasons I drive out there is that the squirrel hunting is so reliably good. That attic is going to stay infested if I were to guess.

 

[utrecht]

I think the goal is to get the disabled vehicle off the side of the road as soon as possible. If the owner knows how to do it then the officer can just park behind the vehicle to let on coming traffic knows there's a problem. If the occupants of the vehicle don't know how to change a tire then the officer will do what's needed to get the car of the side of the road. Just part of their job.

As a long time police officer I can tell you that helping people is the best part of my job. However, changing peoples tires is NOT "just part of the the job". I've done it at work, and Ive done it off duty, but again its not in the job description so don't be offended if a cop doesn't change a tire for you.

More importantly, changing a tire on the interstate is one of the dumbest things a person can do. More cops get killed getting hit by cars while stopped on the side of the road than they do any other way. If you get a flat on the highway, please drive to the nearest exit and get away from traffic. I can promise you that I wont change your tire if you are still on the highway. I have a family and assume that most others do as well.

 

[Lazarus]

I think most guys would have a basic understanding of how to change a flat tire. I did and I wasn't someone that was working on cars day and night. I mean we aren't discussing rebuilding a transmission but I know some don't know how.

My wife just had a flat. She called me so I drove to where she was. By the time I got there she had the spare out and all the lug nuts removed from the wheel! I had to re educate her about not taking the lug nuts off till the car was jacked up, just loosen them.

She is a somewhat frail 56 year old with one bad arm due to a bad wrist break. So yeah the guys need to turn in their man card if they can't do it.

 

[easysurfer]

Speaking of flat tires, has anyone used those "Fix a Flat" sealants in a can?
I've read good and bad reviews of them.

Years back my sister had a flat tire and we ended up going to a store, bought a can of them, put that in her car's tire to do a temporary seal, enough to get her home at least.

 

[scrabbler1]

Speaking of flat tires, has anyone used those "Fix a Flat" sealants in a can?
I've read good and bad reviews of them.

Years back my sister had a flat tire and we ended up going to a store, bought a can of them, put that in her car's tire to do a temporary seal, enough to get her home at least.

Funny you mention this. After I had that flat where I could not loosen the frozen lug nuts, my mom bought me a can of that sealant. Haven't had a flat tire since then (1993), so I can't tell you if it works. My mom seemed to know it worked (though she is no longer alive).

 

[easysurfer]

Funny you mention this. After I had that flat where I could not loosen the frozen lug nuts, my mom bought me a can of that sealant. Haven't had a flat tire since then (1993), so I can't tell you if it works. My mom seemed to know it worked (though she is no longer alive).

The good I've read is that often the sealants do work to make a temporary seal. The bad, some folks report that it messes up the tire pressure sensors readings on newer cars and that many repair shops won't repair a tire that's been treated with these can sealants.

But if you are in a dark, lonely road and just want to get out of there and don't mind getting a new tire soon, and don't have a new car with those sensors, then the sealants might come in quite handy.

http://www.fixaflat.com/

 

[winger]

We have 11 tires on the ground when we travel. I carry a high tech plug kit, and can quickly fix most punctures. I also carry a couple of the cheap Wal-Mart plug kits, good for bigger holes. The only time I couldn't fix it was when we had 3 blowouts in 1 day. All china bombs, all belt separation. It was a helluva day in West Texas.

The best way to avoid flats is quality tires with good tread. There are many run-flat tires easily available.

 

[REWahoo]

We have 11 tires on the ground when we travel.

You tow a tricycle?

 

[NW-Bound]

My wife just had a flat. She called me so I drove to where she was. By the time I got there she had the spare out and all the lug nuts removed from the wheel! I had to re educate her about not taking the lug nuts off till the car was jacked up, just loosen them.

"...all the lug nuts removed from the wheel!".

I still remember one time 30+ years ago, when I did not set the parking brake firmly enough, and the car rolled a couple of inches, enough to topple the chintzy factory scissor jack. The wheel was already off, and I was about to mount the spare.

It scared the hell off me, when the corner of the car came down and resting on the wheel hub. I stood there scared for several minutes, cursing at myself and the car. I almost kicked its fender in!