Good deed of the day; helping out the Keystone Kops

The other night on my way home, I was driving on a major road in Israel...highway 443. I had already passed Modi'in and the Shilat junction, and was driving around 80 km/h (about 55 mph) in the right-hand lane when I noticed that at the (green lighted) intersection ahead, there seemed to be a car going slower than it should have.

I slowed down, and noticed it's lights were off. Getting closer, I veered out of the way, realizing it was so slow moving, that it was being pushed by 2 people.

Only when I passed the car did I realize it was a police car being pushed by 2 policemen.

I quickly pulled over to the side of the road at the bus stop past the intersection, put on my red Magen David Adom strobe light, put on my 4-way flashers, grabbed my MDA/United Hatzala reflective vest and ran out to help them.

"You guys are going to get yourselves killed," I yelled at them. "Its dark out, you're pushing a car with no lights on, and neither of you are wearing reflective vests. They aren't just a good idea, it's the law!" I admonished them.

Another car honked and veered around as he narrowly missed hitting them as well.

Helping them push their car to the side of the road, they sheepishly said their police car had died while driving, and since they were in a rush to get it out of the way they forgot to put on reflective vests.

"Er, do you happen to have any booster cables?" They asked...

I replied, "sure I do, but can you please put on reflective vests and a red warning triangle behind your car?"

Again, their answer blew me away, "Sorry, we don't have a red reflective warning triangle...and looking here in the trunk, we only have 1 reflective vest."

No triangle...one vest in a police car?

Now that they realized I was serious about road safety, they asked; "How are you going to turn your car around, so you can give us a boost/charge? Maybe we should put flares on the road?"

"Actually, you guys are policemen. Put on a reflective vest, and use your flashlight to slow down traffic."

Deciding not to put my faith in their safety abilities, I backup up in reverse onto the sidewalk, so that I could turn around without needing to rely on the police effectively stopping traffic.

Meanwhile, the police woman behind the wheel of the squad car kept turning the starter. "Halo!" I yelled. "Wait till I connect the cables -- you're going to flood our engine AND ruin your car's starter!"

I connected the car batteries together, and then she again started pushing the starter as hard as she could. "WAIT, WAIT! I need to start my car's engine first..."

After starting my engine, the police car's engine roared to life.

I then needed to turn my car around to continue on my way home. "

Listen, what you need to do is turn on your blue flashers, and stop traffic so I can turn around again. Let's wait till the traffic light is red, to minimize the traffic..."

"Great idea!" They replied...and they couldn't stop thanking me for bailing them out.

I only wish there was some way to have gotten a "Get out of jail free" proteczia card from them...or that they remember this incident and go easier on civilians who may need a break.

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Wherever I am, my blog turns towards Eretz Yisrael טובה הארץ מאד מאד

CSI Israel

A guest post by Lurker:
From today's Jerusalem Post:

A haredi man [was] found dead with one hand cuffed in an empty building in Beit Dagan last Friday...
...
...police say an autopsy revealed no signs of foul play.... "No evidence of criminal wrongdoing was found", [said a police spokeseman].

Once again now: The dead body was found handcuffed in an empty building. But according to the Israel Police, there is "no evidence of criminal wrongdoing".

Anyone besides me see something wrong with this picture?

Note: Given the subterranean editorial standards at the Jerusalem Post, I realize that the idiots here might possibly be the JPost staff, rather than (or in addition to) the police...


Wherever I am, my blog turns towards Eretz Yisrael טובה הארץ מאד מאד

The Borg

You read it here first (on JoeSettler and the Muqata).

Dozens of Israeli policemen were seriously injured today during a training exercise.

The exercise was a simulation of a riot situation where the police were sent in to regain calm.

Some policemen apparently were unable to differentiate between the real world where they are told to savagely beat protesters and a training exercise against their fellow policemen where they are not supposed to hurt anybody.

Anyway, dozens of policemen found themselves on the receiving end of typical police violence commonly reserved just for settlers.

Dozens of policemen (possibly as high as 54) are being treated for concussions and possibly broken bones after their fellow overenthusiastic policemen confused their training partners with settlers and beat them mercilessly. (source, JPost published after Muqata's and JoeSettler's exclusive update)

Also during the exercise another policeman fell asleep at the wheel while driving, injuring over 30 other policemen.

Do you think there is a problem in the police force?

Wherever I am, my blog turns towards Eretz Yisrael טובה הארץ מאד מאד

NY Police target Yeshiva College student.

Israeli Student Protester's sign reads:

Without Education, we'll end up like this (pointing to police)

Israeli Student Protester's sign reads:
Without Education, we'll end up like this (pointing to police)

After reading the following news tidbit over at DovBear's, I have to wonder if Israel's finest have been giving pointers to NY's finest -- on how to deal with Jewish students.

NY's Finest: YU student recovering from a hernia operation with prescription drugs for the pain is pulled over and thrown in jail.

Israel's finest: Students demonstrate by blocking traffic over increasing tuition and the Israeli government's refusal to discuss any grievances -- and get their heads bashed in, requiring hospitalization.

DovBear via TTC news tidbit:

Brooklyn student is looking to put the hurt on the city after spending an agony-filled night in a precinct cell just one day after hernia surgery - minus his pain medication.

Simon Weiss, 22, said cops ignored evidence of his surgery when they arrested him on May 9 for possession of two Vicodin pills. Not even a call from his Beth Israel Hospital doctor - a police surgeon - could free him.

Weiss, who attends Yeshiva University, and a friend were pulled over at Coney Island Avenue and Avenue O just after 3 p.m.

When the cops found the pills, Weiss showed them his bandages. His roommate even rushed to the precinct with a copy of the prescription - to no avail.

By midnight, Weiss, in too much agony to sit or lie down, was leaning against a cell wall and moaning for an ambulance. At 4 a.m., cops finally took him to Coney Island Hospital - where doctors treated him with Vicodin.

Weiss is suing for $1 million. (full report here)

Too bad you can't sue the police here in Israel...we're wishing good luck and a speedy recovery to our friend at YU.

Bottom Line: Educate yourselves quickly lest you end up like a NY or Israeli cop.

Real Bottom Line: Avoid the police at all costs, they're above the law.







Wherever I am, my blog turns towards Eretz Yisrael