An Afternoon with the Police

Here in Ethiopia, it’s illegal to talk on your phone and drive at the same time. Which is pretty smart since drivers here already have so much to watch out for… cows, donkeys, other crazy drivers, pedestrians, dogs, you name it…it will jump out in front of you.

Well, today I was a rebel, and answered a phone call while driving. I didn’t talk too long, but guess what? A cop saw me. Funny thing is….I didn’t see him. So I kept on driving towards my destination. About five minutes later, as I’m parking along the street next to my destination….I see a cop get out of a car next to me. And then he begins to approach me. Now realize...he didn’t get out of his own “cop car.” He just waved another driver down, and told him to follow me! The police officer, in his broken English, begins to explain that I have 2 offenses. First I was talking on the phone while driving (about $10). Second, I did not pull over when he whistled at me (About $5). Yes…he has a whistle to flag people down.

Now I knew I was in the wrong, so I didn’t fight it. “OK, I’m sorry officer.” He then tells me he is going to get into my car, then we are going to drive to the police station for me to pay the ticket. I tell him that I can’t let strangers in my car. He says, “I’m a cop.” I say, “My company doesn’t want me to take in strangers. So lets walk.” He says the place is far. I say, “I’m ready to exercise.” I partly figured if we had to walk far, the officer just might not be up to it…and let me go. But then he says OK. Yikes! Realize…I’m also in a suit. I just came from the Investment Office, seeking to renew my business license. (I had a very frustrating time there…and at first inwardly complained that I really had to add this to my day!) But then as we were walking…I realized how odd this situation really was. I never would have expected to be walking down a street in Africa… in my suit…with a cop…to the police station… in order to pay a ticket. I was quite curious to see where this situation would lead.

And then it got even better. Yep….the cop again waved down a car, and then asked him to take us to the police station. So I piled in the back of a truck with the cop…and off we were to the station…in some strangers vehicle. I was starting to really find this funny (and well worth the price of the $15 ticket)….so I began to chat it up with the cop and driver. We shared a few laughs. After some time…the cop tells the driver to pull over. We then get out. “This doesn’t seem like the station?” The cop then tells me, I have had the most “beautiful conduct.” I’m not sure what that means, but I say thanks. Then he says, “Let’s go get some tea…and we’ll work things out.” What really? I’m going to get tea with the cop? Sure….

So we head over to some restaurant, and he begins to find a dark corner for us to sit in. Granted…the power was out…so most of the place was already dark. We order drinks and sit and chat. He makes a few phone calls and talks really fast on the phone…I make out something like “He got away. He’s not here.” I’m not sure if he’s talking about me. Soon he begins to reach towards his pocket to pay for the drinks. I’m not sure if he’s just acting…but I say the drinks are on me. He let’s me pay.
We walk out of the restaurant and again he says, “You have had the most beautiful conduct., and so we are through.” Really? “OK Officer.” He then says we are good friends. I agreed with him. He asks for my phone number…and says that he will call me to have tea again or lunch some time. I give him my number and say, “Let’s do it!” Hey….I think it’s really wise to have a cop friend.

We then shake hands are part ways. As I walk away, I begin to wonder…Is it a bribe to have tea with a cop to get out of a ticket? Did I really just become “lunch friends” with the cop that chased me down to write me a ticket? What a weird outing. I laugh to myself. Then I realize I’m quite far from my car.