I can only cope with certain situations by smiling and playing my version of step'n'fetch it while I ponder what I will do to them the next business day. Years ago I witnessed a very scary situation in the main street that runs through Greenwich Village and the East Village in NY. Four or five Hare Kirshnas intersected with some bikers who had big Rotweillers in heavy chains. Most of the time this collision of worlds in NY provides entertainment. I think that I was the only way with a vantage point who saw the whole scene. The bikers released his dogs and ordered them to attack the Hare Krishna. There were Rotweillers loose. They were so eager to bite ferociously. Since I was across the street, I pulled my companion into a store and locked the door. I told everyone not to dare go out.
The Rotweillers decided not to attack the Hare Krishnas. Instead, they turned on their owner/abuser. The biker was attacked. There was a long struggle to get control. The dogs lost. Poor dogs.
I telephoned the police and gave them details from the store's phone. The police responded almost immediately. I went on my way. When I returned from my errand, I saw the biker walking around my neighborhood. I found police officers and said I was taking badge numbers and names to report it to the Police Commissioner. They were looking for me and could not find me. Local street people who witnessed the almost attack up close assured me they were not local Hell's Angels. I went to the precinct to witness the arrest and sign some complaint papers. A young officer helped me. Next, a seargent screamed at me at the top of his lungs for more than 45 minutes. It felt unsafe to leave. I just wanted to skulk out. There was an over the top Jesus in the Garden of Gethsamane calendar on the wall. I focused on Jesus Christ. Every so often I would calmly (not really) ask him if he were aware that I was a lawyer with a large firm. Yes. Was he aware that I testified before the Civilian Review Board one time. No, but now Yes. I kept looking at my watch to document the abuse time. He did not want me to sign the complaint b/c he did not want to process the prisoner. Finally, he let me leave. The next a.m. I open my door and grab the New York Times. The seargant was the leader of a massive riot in the East Village, one of the absolute worst of all time. Professional videographers were prepared as the cops rioted in a park. Close ups of police faces with covered duct taped badges were released to the media.
I wrote to the Police Commissioner. An assistant comissioner telephoned me. I think they thought they could talk me down b/c I praised the regular police work. He more than agreed with me. In fact, he said that the NYPD had gone way downhill during my school and carreer years. The best police come from combat duty soldiers. When the Viet Nam war ended, their supply of fresh cops was exhaused. The sergeant was middle age so I guessed he was at least a twenty year veteran. He served for only two years. Every newspaper and newstation wanted his scalp.
So I sat, totally determined that Rotweillers are not going to roam and attack innocent people where I reside and totally the young JW at KH. Sometimes I think of the Star Trek epsiode with the dog with the unicorn coming out of its forehead. The one where the dog/unicorn is split into two different personalities by the transporter beam. Spock tells Kirk he can use his reason..............