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Vince
Nomad
Posts: 446
Registered: 10-17-2006
Location: Coronado
Member Is Offline
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FEDERAL POLICE, POSITIVE REPORT
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!!
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BajaBlanca
Select Nomad
Posts: 13197
Registered: 10-28-2008
Location: La Bocana, BCS
Member Is Offline
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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)
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Vince
Nomad
Posts: 446
Registered: 10-17-2006
Location: Coronado
Member Is Offline
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I'm going to start using that word, FANTASTICKER.
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
Member Is Offline
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Great story. I think "fantasticker" works well in this case.
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Puckdrop
Nomad
Posts: 147
Registered: 2-16-2011
Location: Vancouver BC / Loreto, BCS
Member Is Offline
Mood: Liven the dream baby !
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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
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TMW
Select Nomad
Posts: 10659
Registered: 9-1-2003
Location: Bakersfield, CA
Member Is Offline
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That is a great story others should hear. Things like this helps lift the fear some have on going to Baja.
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JESSE
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3370
Registered: 11-5-2002
Member Is Offline
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Better yet, send this story to elsudcaliforniano.com or peninsulardigital.com so they can print it.
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64855
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Send it to US News agencies (not that it will do any good)!
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astrobaja
Senior Nomad
Posts: 952
Registered: 5-22-2006
Location: near San Pedro Martir Park
Member Is Offline
Mood: beam me up
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awesome!!
\"There is a theory which states that if ever anyone discovers exactly what the Universe is for and why it is here, it will instantly disappear
and be replaced by something even more bizarre and inexplicable.There is another theory which states that this has already happened\"
Douglas Adams
our website: http://bajadarkskies.com |
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Brinloor
Junior Nomad
Posts: 79
Registered: 8-16-2010
Location: Mulegé
Member Is Offline
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| 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.
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krafty
Super Nomad
Posts: 1052
Registered: 8-23-2010
Member Is Offline
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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?
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TMW
Select Nomad
Posts: 10659
Registered: 9-1-2003
Location: Bakersfield, CA
Member Is Offline
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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.
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bajalou
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4459
Registered: 3-11-2004
Location: South of the broder
Member Is Offline
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My 3-4 contacts with the Federal Polcia have always been positive, even when stopped for speeding.
No Bad Days
\"Never argue with an idiot. People watching may not be able to tell the difference\"
\"The trouble with doing nothing is - how do I know when I\'m done?\"
Nomad Baja Interactive map
And in the San Felipe area - check out Valle Chico area |
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mcfez
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8678
Registered: 12-2-2009
Location: aka BN yankeeirishman
Member Is Offline
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Very cool story. We should bump this to the top every day!
Old people are like the old cars, made of some tough stuff. May show a little rust, but good as gold on the inside.
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toneart
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4901
Registered: 7-23-2006
Member Is Offline
Mood: Skeptical
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Good, positive story. Thanks!
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!
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Loretana
Senior Nomad
Posts: 825
Registered: 5-19-2006
Location: Oregon/Loreto
Member Is Offline
Mood: alegre
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I believe the correct name is
"POLICIA FEDERAL DE CAMINOS"
"If you want to find the secrets of the universe, think in terms of energy, frequency and vibration."
-Nikola Tesla
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BajaBruno
Super Nomad
Posts: 1035
Registered: 9-6-2006
Location: Back in CA
Member Is Offline
Mood: Happy
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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.
Christopher Bruno, Elk Grove, CA.
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woody with a view
PITA Nomad
Posts: 15939
Registered: 11-8-2004
Location: Looking at the Coronado Islands
Member Is Offline
Mood: Everchangin'
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soldiers are your friends.
hiway cops are your friends.
city cops not so much.
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
Member Is Offline
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Kinda strange, isn't it.....that when police act as they should, they become the unexpected aberration.
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J.P.
Super Nomad
Posts: 1673
Registered: 7-8-2010
Location: Punta Banda
Member Is Offline
Mood: Easy Does It
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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.
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