[cleobarker]

For reasons I won't go into here I was to be served with court papers. The sheriff came to my home last Friday night and finding no one at home, left his card in my door frame, he also left a message on my answering machine. I returned his call and we agreed to meet on Monday so that I could be served. Monday morning rolls around (after a most anxious weekend on my part) and we have a conversation in which he says for the most part that if it will help my situation he will wait until as long as he can to serve me with these papers, allowing me to resolve the situation privately and not in a court of law. For the record, this is NOT a criminal matter.

This is a exactly one of the reasons I love Vermont. This person thought about my plight, saw me as an individual and found a way to contribute to easing the situation for me. THIS is where Vermont is different. I've lived in a number of places before I came here 10 years ago. Diss Vermont all you want, call it expensive (it is), call it low wage (it can be), call it full of rednecks and liberals (duh?) but I will say this, as a resident of this beautiful state, it's also a place where people look after one another, are thoughtful and helpful, genuine and generous and darn it, right now I am proud to call myself a Vermonter.

Rant over,

cb

[KoZmiC NinJa]

Originally Posted by cleobarker

For reasons I won't go into here I was to be served with court papers. The sheriff came to my home last Friday night and finding no one at home, left his card in my door frame, he also left a message on my answering machine.

Hmmmmm.......Diametrically opposed to the experience I had with
one. This is great this worked out for you but makes me wonder
after reading this, and my experience what 'laws' do these guys go by ?
Thier own ? Glad it worked for you but the one I dealt with could
only be described as an insanely violent sociopath. Despite how I
come off here, in real life I am a quiet and reserved person. Not
one traffic ticket, no police record, active in the community... This
person was doing everything he could to elevate a nothing situation
created only because of his inate anger and overabundance of free time
into a confrontation. When he saw it wasnt going to work he just
extorted some money from me at an ATM machine. Could I fight it ?
I suppose, do I want to ? No...I will no doubt see this crazed psycho
again and I dont want him to go Deliverance on me given that there
is obviously no oversight regarding this agency. In some lower
states, Sheriffs are only allowed to escort prisoners and assist real
police agencies. Now I see why.

[pucabear]

I have to agree with Kozmic...you were fortunate. When we first moved here from Florida, my husband was driving very carefully in his first significant snow. He was pulled over, made to get out of the car and had to do a roadside soberity test. Since he does not drink, but has the coordination of an ox, he said he would be happy to do a breathilizer. He was treated poorly and pulled over 2 more times that winter (same guy) for silly things....small town, "good ol' boy" doesn't work for everyone.

[cleobarker]

Wow, I can't tell you how surprised I was to read your stories. The only interactions I've had with police in my neck of the woods have been good ones. Other than the time I wrote about I've only had one other interaction with the law here in Vermont and it was a pleasant one as well. I mean, it was as pleasant an experience as one can have when being pulled over for speeding, the trooper just said "slow down" and let me go.

I'm sorry your experiences were so vastly different from mine. They sound like something no one would want to go through, regardless of where they live.

cb

[swampyankee]

Vermont State Police are the dumbest, nastiest, most violent jackasses I've ever had the misfortune of encountering.

My sister dated a lower level one and he used to beat her. I attended a party at his house and got to meet some other "troopers" - they made the Deliverance 'purty lips' guy look like a sophisticat.

What amazed me about them was their hatred for the public - the very people they're supposed to "serve"! They hated everyone, and I was lucky to get out of that party without a beating as my hair was not cropped to their standards.

[Yac]

Lets try and leave emotions out of this, ok ? Calm down, please.

[vter]

Thanks Yac - I have two family members who are in the Vermont State Police and they are nothing like what the above poster described.

[swampyankee]

Sorry. I'm better now. It's just that I've had a number of EXTREMELY scary run-ins involving the VSP. There are 'most likely' some good ones, but as far as I'm concerned - they're gestapo. One man's opinion. 'Nuff said.