I keep thinking I’ll quit writing about the mess we’ve made of the United States. After all, there is little chance anything will change because one old, retired cop expresses an opinion. Still, maybe something I say will inspire someone younger and more adventurous to take action, start a movement, or add to my prayers by asking for common sense, objectivity, and moral behavior to become the goals of our society.
The point today is clearly stated in the title. Influence comes with authority, and it creates problems if not handled properly. Anyone who holds or has held a position of power, whether their authority was limited or overwhelming, should know influence is often a by-product of authority and status. How much influence depends on many factors, but it is there.
When I started the police academy some decades ago, this was one of the first pieces of wisdom shared with our class. However, hearing an instructor at the academy or later having a professor in graduate school make that same point was not like experiencing it. Take my first brush with the power of influence as a street officer.
As a young officer, I was a bit gung-ho. So, when I was assigned to work radar, I stopped many folks and wrote many tickets. For the record, I also gave a lot of warnings if the driver’s explanation for speeding was reasonable and sounded authentic.
The most humorous “warning” situation was a stop I made one evening on one of the busiest streets in town. The driver’s door flew open as I approached the car, which is not a good sign in most cases. Luckily, before I could overreact, a female voice rang out, and a middle-aged, nicely dressed woman leaned out of the car and shouted. “If you’re giving me a ticket, do it fast. I’m about to pee in my pants!”
Momentarily, I toyed with asking her why she had not stopped at the service station less than a quarter of a mile back. However, common sense prevailed, and I told her to slow down and stop at the next place with a restroom.
To this day, I have no idea whether she was telling the truth. However, part of me knows if I had not accepted her excuse, she’d have soiled herself to make a point. That might have been the end of my law enforcement career, at least in that small town.
Yes! She knew she could use the fact she was a well-to-do woman in a small town to influence my decision that evening. However, my next learning experience involving influence was a bit more direct and closer to home.
To be continued.
Photo by Ksenia Kartasheva: https://www.pexels.com/photo/pensive-female-driving-vintage-car-in-daylight-6645298/
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