SoCal Observation

[WeThePeople]

I've been out in Southern California on business and have an observation that I'd like to share:

I spent a few days in Anaheim, Newport Beach, and Laguna Beach, and various other spots while I was there. I drove everywhere I went (as an aside, holy smokes, there are a lot of cars out there!!!). I never saw any police officers on the highway. As a matter of fact, with one exception, I never saw any police officers anywhere. The exception was in Newport Beach, where some police officers were gathered in a group in a parking lot by the beach.

I was actually looking for police officers because I was unwillingly disarmed and generally have an uncomfortable feeling about being in a strange spot without protection. I was also looking for them because my aunt's argument is that I don't need to carry a gun because there are police to protect me (tongue in cheek).

Anyway, yesterday, once I passed through security at John Wayne Airport, I think I found ALL of the police officers. There were easily 20 police officers in there.

What the heck? All (obviously not all, but certainly the highest concentration) of the ARMED police officers are in the one spot where there is probably the lowest chance of anyone else being armed since you've gotta go through airport security to get there.

Very frustrating indeed.

Oh, and before anyone gets on me for bashing California, I'm not. It was absolutely beautiful out there and most of the folks that I met seemed very nice.

 

[WayneConrad]

Unmarked?

 

[WeThePeople]

You know WayneConrad, that's a good point. There could have been numerous unmarked cars out there that I didn't see. They would have been some seriously undercover cars though because it's usually pretty easy to pick out an unmarked police car. Nonetheless, you bring up a good point that I hadn't considered.

 

[Psssniper]

They are out there you just didn't "run" into one........
This is my brother in laws story below

Motorcyclist badly injured when he crashes into CHP cruiser
Officials say officer was conducting a traffic break on I-5 in Lake Forest when San Clemente man's cycle hit patrol car.
By SALVADOR HERNANDEZ
The Orange County Register
Comments 12| Recommend 1

LAKE FOREST – A man was thrown from his motorcycle Tuesday when he crashed with a California Highway Patrol cruiser whose driver was trying to slow down traffic, authorities said.

Carey xxxxxxxx of San Clemente suffered major injuries when he crashed into the CHP patrol car on the southbound lanes of the I-5 just past the Lake Forest Drive exit, said CHP officer Denise Quesada.

The CHP officer was conducting a traffic break on the freeway and the cruiser had its lights and siren on, Quesada said.

During a traffic break, CHP officers sweep across the freeway at slow speeds from one side to the other to get vehicles to stop. In this case, the officer was attempting to slow traffic because of a car that stalled in the middle of the southbound lanes.

The officer began conducting the traffic break at 4:48 p.m. He was driving at about 20 mph and sweeping the freeway for the third time when Hendsbee was approaching in the car-pool lane.

The motorcycle and the patrol car crashed, sending xxxxxxxx, 43, off the motorcycle. He was transported to Mission Hospital in Mission Viejo with major injuries.

The CHP officer, whose name was not immediately available, was not injured.

 

[Number 6]

Laguna and Newport are pretty nice communities, and as a result you will probably see fewer police there than if you spent time in Santa Ana. Anaheim is a mixed bag, some parts are really nice and others are really bad. Like any major metropolitan area the police are going to congregate where they are needed. If you went out to the Newport Beach bar scene at night I am sure you would see many more police officers. It sounds like you went to the nicer parts of Orange County, I am sure if you spent your time in the not so nice part of town you would have seen a lot more police officers.

 

[El Tejon]

Is not Greater Los Angeles notoriously underpoliced?

 

[CountGlockula]

The exception was in Newport Beach..

Dude, you were in Newport Beach!! AND you felt threatened? Newport beach is one of the safest place in Orange County.

I'd suggest you visit/do business in areas like Compton, Inglewood, Highland Park, Santa Ana, South L.A., Moorpark and Rampart District.

Here's a glimpse of a Newport Beach type of area in So Cal:


Paranoia is a bad disease my friend.

 

[El Tejon]

Safe? Look at all those weeds, and bugs! What about the sand mites and the children?

 

[WoofersInc]

I grew up in Newport Beach. The police force there is very good at their job. You may not have seen them but they are there. If you were down on Balboa Pennisula there is a lot of little alleys and such that run behind some of the streets. They are good shortcuts for the locals and PD. They will usually use them to avoid traffic. I was also a lifeguard for the city and I can tell you that when we needed them they were always very quick to respond. They also use bike patrols that are not as easily spotted also since they will ride the beachfront sidewalks that cars don't see. You were safe in Newport. Next time you go PM me and I can fill you in on some good eating and entertainment spots.

 

[Greysand]

I agree, you went to some of the safest areas around here. Your not as likely to see nearly as many cops as in the rougher areas. Hang out in compton, or san pedro for a while.

As an aside, CountGlockula - I'm pretty sure I've taken a nap in that exact spot before.. pretty funny.

 

[WeThePeople]

Count Glockula:

I NEVER said that I felt threatened while I was there.

Jim

 

[Librarian]

What about the sand mites and the children?

We spray for both.

Dangerous critters, those 'children'. You think you're rid of them, then you get a new eruption or a re-infection with an old one.