I'm sitting in my living room at about 8:10pm watching a recorded Judge Judy waiting for Suzy to get home. Jazzy starts growling at the front door, so I get up and look. I see a car in the cul-de-sac, and think nothing of it. I figure it's someone coming from a neighbors house and sitting there for some reason. A few minutes later, I notice it is gone. I hear the garage door, and Suzy comes in.
"I'm calling the police", she says.
"Why?", I asked.
She then said something about being followed home, and starts talking to the 911 operator. She was very upset, and all I could make out was something about eggs and being followed home. I asked if the car I saw was the one, and she said yes.
I got my keys, wallet and shoes on and headed out to find the car. At the corner, I saw it.. and 3 cop cars. I pulled over, got out and asked the cop if he was there because of the 911 call. He said he was. He said that the guys car got egged, and he thought Suzy did it and called 911 from his car. But, they now realized it was a mistake. I told him my wife was pretty upset, since she was just followed home. He, and the other two officers (both female, I believe) came up to the house.
When I got back up to the house, Suzy was out there, and my dogs basically had the cop pinned against his car. Good dogs. He asked if I'd take the dogs in, and I did.
He explained the situation and misunderstanding to Suzy. Suzy was extremely upset, understandably. The cop went from somewhat helpful, to pretty unsympathetic by repeating "It was a misunderstanding, you're in no danger, it's over now." This was basically saying "Get over it". From Suzy's standpoint, she was followed home, for 15 minutes, on back roads. She knew nothing of eggs, or 911 calls. She knew that a car was flashing their lights at her, and following her home. Maybe this cop has been working in Saratoga County for too long. Maybe he should spend some time down in Broward County, where when a woman is followed home, it is usually followed up with a rape, not a misunderstanding about an egging.
One thing of note is that during the conversation we asked why the guy was following her. The cop said 911 told him to. We both were like "What? No way 911 told him to follow. 911 doesn't put people in more danger. They should just say to get the plate, and go." But, he said 911 said to follow. He was wrong.
As I watched my tax dollars start to be being wasted by him not helping much anymore, and the other two officers being completely silent, he left.
Suzy was so upset. She was angry, frightened and frustrated. She called the police station to speak with a Sgt. She wanted to tell them that the cop wasn't exactly sympathetic and should be told that when a woman is followed home, it isn't "over with" to her. Also, that we wanted the report that would be made, as well as a transcript of the 911 call to see if the operator told the guy to follow her.
I guess the Sgt. was helpful and nice. He said that he understood her feelings, and that he listened to the whole thing over the radio (I guess this was the only thing going on in the county). He said things went down as they should have, and that the 911 operator did not say to follow, and the guy did it on his own. And, we can't get any reports or transcripts without a subpoena.
A message to cops out there. Whenever a woman is followed home, at night, on back roads, she will be scared. Remember this and be empathetic to this. Don't patronize her or for an instant forget that being followed home is scary.
A message to people who get egg on their car and FOLLOW SOMEONE HOME. You are a complete fucking moron. The guy last night had his kids in the car. HIS KIDS. He's lucky he was following Suzy and not someone who was armed. This is a great way to get yourself shot or beaten to a pulp. Not to mention a great way to endanger your kids. There is a saying about not crying over spilled milk. In this case, don't endager your family over egg on your car.