BajaNomad - FEDERAL POLICE, POSITIVE REPORT

FEDERAL POLICE, POSITIVE REPORT

Vince - 8-10-2011 at 12:09 PM

While driving from our Coyote Bay house to Mulege on Tuesday, Aug. 2, I had a blowout of the left front tire. It was late in the afternoon and it was blazing hot. I pulled over, but there was no shoulder. Four or five cars stopped to help while I was getting the jack out. One of them was Manuel Diaz, my old friend I haven't seen for several years. I sent them all on thinking I could change it myself. It began to be a struggle in the heat. I couldn't get the spare out from under the pickup bed where it sat for many years in my 1981 Datsun Diesel pickup. Another Samaritan stopped and helped me get it loose from the chain. I was very thankful. Then the Federal Policia stopped and helped. They were very polite and businesslike, ready to pitch in. Well soon there were 6 of them in 3 cars all with their lights flashing. When we found out the spare also was flat, they flagged down a gigantic semi truck and the driver did his best to fix it, but the valvestem went bad and he couldn't repair it. The policeman in charge then took me in to Mulege with the flat. The other policemen stayed with my wife at the car. I had a used tire mounted on the wheel and they bought me back. They insisted on doing all the manual work of replacing the tire. I offered to pay them or donate to their fund, but NO. They wouldn't accept it. They were based in Santa Rosalia and were all complete gentlemen and most professional. I will forever be indebted to those Federal Policemen, they made it all happen in a short time and all very safely. I promised them, my wife and myself I would be more prepared next time. GRACIAS POLICIA FEDERAL!!

BajaBlanca - 8-10-2011 at 12:13 PM

that is a wonderful story...maybe you can donate sodas or snacks or baked goods next time you are in santa rosalia.

or even write a letter of congrats and give it to the police captain.

what a good story - made my day, which was fantastic to start with, fantasticker (just made that word up)

:lol:

Vince - 8-10-2011 at 12:25 PM

I'm going to start using that word, FANTASTICKER.

DENNIS - 8-10-2011 at 12:37 PM

Great story. I think "fantasticker" works well in this case.

Puckdrop - 8-10-2011 at 12:52 PM

How enlightening,just goes to show and prove that the brush does NOT paint all with the same colour (Canadian spelling of color). makes me feel all warm and fuzzy now towards Policia Ferdal.
Definition of "fantaskicker" = gooder / moebetter :lol:

TMW - 8-10-2011 at 01:51 PM

That is a great story others should hear. Things like this helps lift the fear some have on going to Baja.

JESSE - 8-10-2011 at 02:08 PM

Better yet, send this story to elsudcaliforniano.com or peninsulardigital.com so they can print it.

David K - 8-10-2011 at 02:25 PM

Send it to US News agencies (not that it will do any good)!

astrobaja - 8-10-2011 at 02:35 PM

awesome!!

Brinloor - 8-10-2011 at 02:46 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Vince
While driving from our Coyote Bay house to Mulege on Tuesday, Aug. 2, I had a blowout of the left front tire. It was late in the afternoon and it was blazing hot. I pulled over, but there was no shoulder. Four or five cars stopped to help while I was getting the jack out. One of them was Manuel Diaz, my old friend I haven't seen for several years. I sent them all on thinking I could change it myself. It began to be a struggle in the heat. I couldn't get the spare out from under the pickup bed where it sat for many years in my 1981 Datsun Diesel pickup. Another Samaritan stopped and helped me get it loose from the chain. I was very thankful. Then the Federal Policia stopped and helped. They were very polite and businesslike, ready to pitch in. Well soon there were 6 of them in 3 cars all with their lights flashing. When we found out the spare also was flat, they flagged down a gigantic semi truck and the driver did his best to fix it, but the valvestem went bad and he couldn't repair it. The policeman in charge then took me in to Mulege with the flat. The other policemen stayed with my wife at the car. I had a used tire mounted on the wheel and they bought me back. They insisted on doing all the manual work of replacing the tire. I offered to pay them or donate to their fund, but NO. They wouldn't accept it. They were based in Santa Rosalia and were all complete gentlemen and most professional. I will forever be indebted to those Federal Policemen, they made it all happen in a short time and all very safely. I promised them, my wife and myself I would be more prepared next time. GRACIAS POLICIA FEDERAL!!

If you got any names, please take the time to write letters to the individuals concerned and their superiors, cc to everyone. My friends were in an auto accident north of Sta. Rosalia and federales from the same station responded. She wrote letters praising the empathy and professionalism of the officers. Within weeks one officer was promoted and moved to Constitution and his superior also received a promotion. Those letters will stay on their files throughout their careers and may have much more influence than you would expect.

krafty - 8-10-2011 at 02:58 PM

Saw a similar scene last week coming home from SD-toll road to Rosarito, some federales were helping a gent change a tire. Also had some policia escort a neighbor home to his door who apparently had too much to drink. Would the policia in the states do this?

TMW - 8-10-2011 at 07:50 PM

I believe there are many more good cops everywhere that do their moto of "To Protect and Serve". Unfortunatly it is the bad ones that make the headlines.

bajalou - 8-10-2011 at 07:57 PM

My 3-4 contacts with the Federal Polcia have always been positive, even when stopped for speeding.

mcfez - 8-10-2011 at 10:18 PM

Very cool story. We should bump this to the top every day!

Good, positive story. Thanks!

toneart - 8-10-2011 at 10:37 PM

The Federal Police in their black and white cars are the equivalent of our California Highway Patrol, only Federal. They are an elite corps. They are on the up and up. They are there to serve and protect! Oh, they will cite you if you are speeding or passing in a no pass zone or breaking any other traffic laws. That's a good thing. I am sure that just their presence has saved many lives.

The negative reports about police are usually municipal police. Also, I don't believe these Federal Highway Police are to be referred to as "Federales". Maybe my information is dated. Please tell me if it is. But in the many years I have traveled throughout Mexico, "Federales" were plain clothed police. They were very sinister and NOT trustworthy at all. In fact, they were dangerous. The general public attitude regarding "Federales" was, if they ever approached you, move away fast!

They would act very friendly, as though they had a personal interest in you (which they did, but not for the reasons you would be thinking). They would ask many questions and get very personal; names, where are you from, what do you like to do, what have you been doing, do you like Mexico, why are you interested in Mexico, etc. They would ask about your companions too. They were known to plant drugs on you and then make a violent arrest. Some victims were never to be seen again.

My girlfriend and I were approached many years ago in Puerto Vallarta, in a bar lounge. The bartender tipped me off. We moved away fast!

Loretana - 8-10-2011 at 10:52 PM

I believe the correct name is
"POLICIA FEDERAL DE CAMINOS"

BajaBruno - 8-10-2011 at 10:56 PM

As Toneart, Bajalou and others have noted, the Policia Federal de Caminos are a well trained, well equipped, and professional outfit. No doubt there is the occasional bad apple rolling around here or there, but in my many contacts with them all over Mexico I have always come away with a positive impression.

Now, the city traffic cops--they are a whole different breed of fruit, and rotten to the core.

woody with a view - 8-11-2011 at 05:42 AM

soldiers are your friends.

hiway cops are your friends.

city cops not so much.

DENNIS - 8-11-2011 at 05:56 AM

Kinda strange, isn't it.....that when police act as they should, they become the unexpected aberration.

J.P. - 8-11-2011 at 01:32 PM

No different here than in the states. The bar is set a lot higher for the Federales/Highway Patrol.
For example in Texas to be invited into the Texas Rangers you have to graduated #1 fron your highway patrol class.

tripledigitken - 8-11-2011 at 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by DENNIS
Kinda strange, isn't it.....that when police act as they should, they become the unexpected aberration.

Unfortunately, that holds for many of the institutions of Mexico.

Marc - 8-13-2011 at 09:42 PM

Then you waked up. :lol:

durrelllrobert - 8-14-2011 at 10:02 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Vince
Then the Federal Policia stopped and helped. They were very polite and businesslike, ready to pitch in. Well soon there were 6 of them in 3 cars all with their lights flashing. When we found out the spare also was flat, they flagged down a gigantic semi truck and the driver did his best to fix it, but the valvestem went bad and he couldn't repair it. The policeman in charge then took me in to Mulege with the flat. The other policemen stayed with my wife at the car. I had a used tire mounted on the wheel and they bought me back. They insisted on doing all the manual work of replacing the tire. I offered to pay them or donate to their fund, but NO. They wouldn't accept it. They were based in Santa Rosalia and were all complete gentlemen and most professional. I will forever be indebted to those Federal Policemen, they made it all happen in a short time and all very safely. I promised them, my wife and myself I would be more prepared next time. GRACIAS POLICIA FEDERAL!!

..so what's the big deal? The CHP woud do the same thing wouldn't they? :lol:

BajaGeoff - 8-15-2011 at 04:06 PM

I have also had nothing but positive interactions with the Federal Police.

Most notable was last year when a local ran out in front of my friends truck on the toll road north of Ensenada and was hit and sent flying over the back of his vehicle. We spent about 5 hours with the Federales at their headquarters in downtown Ensenada while we worked out the insurance details and legal procedures. All of the Federales that we interacted with were very professional and helpful throughout the ordeal. Thankfully, the local did not suffer any life threatening injuries and was only hospitalized for a short time.

DENNIS - 8-15-2011 at 04:16 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by BajaGeoff
I have also had nothing but positive interactions with the Federal Police.

I'm sure that Geoff is referring to the Federal Highway Police.

There are other federal police agencies that may warrent differing evaluations.