You gotta love it when you see a NYPD patrol car parked at a fire hydrant and the two cops walking into Staples on Ocean Avenue in Brooklyn.  One of them was so fat she was probably 1 freakin donut away from a heart attack.  I took the pic of their car just for memories and walked in as well (i had to buy thumb drives).  Im behind them and ask whether its legal or illegal to park at a hydrant.  They look at each other and then one says "whats that supposed to mean"  I answered "if I was at a hydrant would you give me a ticket"  he say yes.  So i ask then why is it ok for you to park at one when us common folk cant and would receive a ticket.  His response "thats none of your business, we are on the job"  I kind of chuckled and said " yep I see with the money you just paid for whatever is in your bag you are on a job right  now".  He was so pissed as was the round donut partner of his.  He said do we have a problem.  I answered.  I am merely trying to find out why you can park for personal reason and us common folk cant.  Before he could say something I showed him my blackberry pic of his car in front of staples at a hydrant.  He kind of bugged out and walked away.  That was my fun for today

HYPOCRISY AT ITS BEST

The cell/Blackberry Hi Res' camera photos can be an important tool.More people should get into the habit of using it, when necessary or prudent to do so. You can always delete the photo later, if not needed.

I had found a website for those pics!!!...  Best is when you see a NYPD patrol car that's been hit by the Brownies!!!  Who'd have thought!!!

You should send that pic to their precinct with a short note - "I don't appreciate my taxes paying for officers that show total disrespect for the law" something like that....  and mention that you watched them doing personal business while parked there.

seeing those cops that get to be as wide as tall is also just sad - they need to be able to run, fight, etc.  And I do think there are fitness standards too... I just  saw one like that the other day in Penn.   Just shook my head.

post it

It is not unreasonable for anyone to take a few minutes to themselves throughout the day. Most people during an 8hr day will make a personal phone call, chat at the water cooler, grab a cup of coffee, etc... It is all part of a normal day, companies allow it, and they all know people don't work every second during an 8hr day. I might be in the minority here but I really don't have much of a problem with it. The parking issue is a bit unfair though.

Quoted from Parashooter

I just  saw one like that the other day in Penn.   Just shook my head.

I always see the cops and army guys posted at Penn (fat and thin) and just wonder why they are even there. They are always in a circle jerk talking about crap and eyeing every female in boots that walks by. Most of the time their backs are to the regular folk walking off through Penn to their jobs. Next time through just take a quick look and see if they have any awareness on what the heck is going on at the station.
The best is when passing the "bag check" guys and the one's being checked are white guys in their 60's or white girls in their 30's. Amazing!!

Quoted from Recoil

It is not unreasonable for anyone to take a few minutes to themselves throughout the day. Most people during an 8hr day will make a personal phone call, chat at the water cooler, grab a cup of coffee, etc... It is all part of a normal day, companies allow it, and they all know people don't work every second during an 8hr day. I might be in the minority here but I really don't have much of a problem with it. The parking issue is a bit unfair though.

No one complaining about taking a break (assuming they were properly clocked out/Radioed in...)... it's doing personal business WHILE their car is parked illegally...

The thing is, they CAN park there (not 100% sure about at hydrants, but other no parking zones) *IF* they are on a call, doing police business... but NOT to do personal business...

And the cops pissy attitude, "do we have a problem?"  instead of  doing a "man up" and saying "Yeah, you're right, I shouldn't have... sorry about that"

And what about those firemen that use a firetruck to shop for groceries. We don't pay them to buy Mallomars.

I have a fireman by me that uses a firetruck to place a star (that lights up) in a tree in his front yard (attached to extension cord) during the Christmas season..  !! Plants the truck down, raises the ladder and up he goes.

Quoted from wreckhog

And what about those firemen that use a firetruck to shop for groceries. We don't pay them to buy Mallomars.

During their shift Firemen are allowed a meal, just as regular folks are, Firemen shop using the firetruck because if a call comes in when they are out getting food they can respond directly from their given location, as opposed to going back to the firehouse to get the truck.

Quoted from wreckhog

And what about those firemen that use a firetruck to shop for groceries. We don't pay them to buy Mallomars.

If they're shopping for the firehouse, AND THEY STAY IN THEIR DISTRICT, I have no problem with that. But, when i see 8 firemen, and a ladder truck from Whitestone double parked in front of an Italian deli in the Bronx, on Arthur Ave, I have a problem.

Quoted from nyguns

I have a fireman by me that uses a firetruck to place a star (that lights up) in a tree in his front yard (attached to extension cord) during the Christmas season..  !! Plants the truck down, raises the ladder and up he goes.

Take a picture and send it to the chief... I'm guessing/hoping he has permission to use the truck in that manner.

Quoted from T.Webb

If they're shopping for the firehouse, AND THEY STAY IN THEIR DISTRICT, I have no problem with that. But, when i see 8 firemen, and a ladder truck from Whitestone double parked in front of an Italian deli in the Bronx, on Arthur Ave, I have a problem.

Agreed

I believe there are two issues at play here.

One is the hydrant parking. You and I can't block a hydrant because the fire department may need access to it in a n emergency situation. Unlike most other "no parking" areas, there is a very legitimate safety issue involved. On a call or not, police or not, there is no justification for blocking the hydrant.

THe other issue is public perception. These two cops may have been the hardest working police in the history of the force. I don't know - and neither does anyone else here. The cops in Penn Station mentioned in another post may be working their tails off and genuinely keeping us safer.

The problem is the _perception_ is different.

Any time I drive by a firehouse on Long Island I see a cop car (or two or three) parked there. I don't know what they are doing in there all day (I have been told by a Nassau cop that they sleep, drink and play cards, but I don't know for sure). The only other place I see a cop is monitoring a stop sign or at a speed trap on the highway. I also get to see them turn on their lights to blow through a red light then turn them off once through the intersection.

If I was a drug dealer or felon, I may see some of the tougher work cops inevitably do. Being a law abiding citizen I don't get to see that side of things.

The average person is probably guilty of some misconceptions which are justifiable based on what they see every day. Cops are also guilty because they help perpetuate these misconceptions through their public behavior - ogling cute girls in Penn or blocking hydrants do not help the situation.

Here is the pic I took that is on my blackberry.  If you look behind the fire hydrant you will see the apron which where cars can drive up and pull into the staples parking .  The fat female donut cop probably told him walking from the parking lot is to far.  Lets park here so I can only burn off 10 calories walking 15 feet to the door.  She was so large her jacket didnt close and her bullit proof vest barely covered her chest and exposed at least 10 inches of stomach.  The Michelin man is a model compared to her LOL.  At first I thought maybe there are traffic but then I saw their pistols and it didnt say traffic on their patrol car.  

Quoted from truckie453

During their shift Firemen are allowed a meal, just as regular folks are, Firemen shop using the firetruck because if a call comes in when they are out getting food they can respond directly from their given location, as opposed to going back to the firehouse to get the truck.

Of course they can eat. Place an order with FreshDirect and make a sandwich. Don't leave the house if you are on the clock and there is no fire.

I am not saying it is 100% correct to block that hydrant, but even if they are off the clock running an errand they would still have to respond to a call.  Same as if they were sitting down eating.  If that was the case and they call was help for you would you rather have them run (I am using that term loosely reguarding Mrs. Donut) out the front door into the car, or run out down the street, into the parking lot etc?  Also their is quite a bit of sensitive equipment in that car, I am sure they want to keep it in their sight.  As far as blocking that hydrant in case of a fire they would be out there to take care of that way before a fire truck ever responded to the call.

I am not NYPD nor due I unconditionally endorse all their actions, but there are 2 sides to every coin.

Quoted from CHERRY911

I am not saying it is 100% correct to block that hydrant, but even if they are off the clock running an errand they would still have to respond to a call.  Same as if they were sitting down eating.  If that was the case and they call was help for you would you rather have them run (I am using that term loosely reguarding Mrs. Donut) out the front door into the car, or run out down the street, into the parking lot etc?  Also their is quite a bit of sensitive equipment in that car, I am sure they want to keep it in their sight.  As far as blocking that hydrant in case of a fire they would be out there to take care of that way before a fire truck ever responded to the call.

I am not NYPD nor due I unconditionally endorse all their actions, but there are 2 sides to every coin.

I would agree with you on that but here is something I left out.  The parking lot was 3/4 empty.  The reason they parked at the hydrant was because they were to lazy to walk an extra 20 feet.  

Quoted from wreckhog

Of course they can eat. Place an order with FreshDirect and make a sandwich. Don't leave the house if you are on the clock and there is no fire.

do you go out at lunch time? the shift allows for meal, there is no set meal time as calls come in whenever they come in. You eat when you can.

While waiting for a LIRR train in Penn Station, I did witness an NYPD do his job.
There were lots of homeless people sleeping in the LIRR waiting area.
He went around asking for tickets and kicked everyone out that didn't have, obviously all of the homeless people.
My wife and I were happy to show our tickets to the nice cop that cleansed the area. LOL

So Penn Station NYPD gets a good grade in my book.
Sometimes just their presence is enough to make a criminal think twice.

I have no problem with anyone taking a break.

The illegal parking is unacceptable. Kudos to you for saying something.

Once while working in Manhattan, we had 2 lanes of one block closed. It was coned off and closed to traffic. We were inspecting sewer pipes, my truck was in the coned off/taped off area and in front of a hydrant. I got a ticket while we were working. The cop was like a ninja....one second nothing then poof there was a ticket in the windshield wiper.

Quoted from cycler

I would agree with you on that but here is something I left out.  The parking lot was 3/4 empty.  The reason they parked at the hydrant was because they were to lazy to walk an extra 20 feet.  

Mybe it was more tactically sound to park there, I don't know I am not an officer. Could be many reasons. And when you park illegally at your favorite gun shop... what is your excuse?