Not the traffic stop you expected.

December 10, 2014 7:23 AM

"What if we could change that person's day in real time?" Merry Christmas from the police department of Lowell, Michigan.
posted by HuronBob (12 comments total)

This is great. But what's with the viral marketing agency?
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 7:28 AM on December 10, 2014

I don't know. The timing isn't the greatest. I mean, what can police departments possibly do to actually improve their public image at this point? You know, beyond actually not murdering people.

Because it's Christmas and this is a really Christmas thing, and all I can think of is that it's a damn good thing that woman wasn't black. And that I'm now concerned for my safety if a cop pulls me over, and some Legos aren't going to change that.

Shit. This is what we've come to. At Christmas.
posted by Naberius at 7:32 AM on December 10, 2014 [7 favorites]

My expectations are so low for viral videos of cops lately that whatever positive feelings I felt about the gifts were incidental after the relief that no one got fucking shot to death or strangled in this video.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 7:34 AM on December 10, 2014 [2 favorites]

Good fucking Lord. Mods, please delete this.
posted by HuronBob at 7:35 AM on December 10, 2014

Yeah, my initial assumption after reading the title was that they'd murdered someone.

And I'm a middle aged white guy - I think US police may now be looking at a broad-based legitimacy problem.
posted by ryanshepard at 7:38 AM on December 10, 2014 [1 favorite]

it's a damn good thing that woman wasn't black.

Didn't watch the whole thing, then?
posted by obfuscation at 7:39 AM on December 10, 2014

We could turn this into a "videos of [x] people giving free [y]", if you like; I have a friend who's a dentist, and every year his practice picks one person who's going to be having some hefty and involved treatment for something and give them the whole treatment for free - orthodontia, cleaning, the whole ball of wax. They film their reaction shot and use that as a video Christmas card every year.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 7:41 AM on December 10, 2014

I doubt any gift I would get from a cop would make up for the worry and anxiety of getting randomly pulled over. Seriously, I would file a complaint about this if it happened to me.
posted by ryanrs at 7:41 AM on December 10, 2014 [6 favorites]

If on-duty cops have time for bullshit like this, the department's budget is too high.
posted by Faint of Butt at 7:42 AM on December 10, 2014

Yeah. How about my day was going great until you pulled me over making me fear for my freedom and possibly life (seriously, every traffic stop is a threat of violence!).

Oh great, you put the fear of death in me so you could distract me while your friends bought me some cheap crap.

This is the most american thing ever and it's pretty gross.
posted by dis_integration at 7:44 AM on December 10, 2014 [1 favorite]

Why worry, have you done something?

Interesting post HB.
posted by clavdivs at 7:44 AM on December 10, 2014

Yeah, I would feel really weird if this happened to me. You know what would make me feel better officer? If you explained to me what I was doing wrong, the importance of doing right, give me a chance to apologize and send me on my way. I do not need to sit here on my way to work for 45 minutes while your fucking "elves" go shopping for lego my kids don't need.

This is kind of like getting a really nice gift from your weird, possibly pedophile great uncle.
posted by Slarty Bartfast at 7:46 AM on December 10, 2014 [1 favorite]