There's one in every zip code

One of the reasons that we decided to move our vast financial resources (six digits, if you count the cents column) from the Bank of These United States of America to our Baltimore County Employees Federal Credit Union (and there were many reasons) is that the credit union is not very likely to be the scene of an armed holdup, since bad guys know that lots of police are in and out of there all day, some in uniform, some in plain clothes, but all toting sidearms.

Whereas, the BoTUSoA has to hire an off-duty cop to hang around, armed, all day to deter armed robberies and whatnot.

It's a good idea to have public safety personnel out and about, in my opinion.  It shows the public that they are on the job, which is why for the life of me I can't get this guy's point.  He's out in California, and he sees the local fire crew getting their groceries at a store (they have to eat, too, you know) and he does not like it, so he starts honking on them.

Apparently he is upset that they are not buying groceries - even he acknowledges that firefighters cannot just punch out and go to H.R. Stuffingburger's for a two-hour three-martini lunch- but he chooses to quibble over their choice of where to shop!  He insists that they deal with some specialized meat shop just because it's closer to the firehouse.  Never mind that it's probably much more expensive than at a chain supermarket.

The next time you see a police officer taking a break to see a man about a horse and maybe grab a drink, or see a fire crew at the BuySumMor gettin' the fixin's for chop suey, how about just a) thanking them for going into a line of work that provides protection for you and yours  - or at least b) leaving them to their business?

People.  I tell you.  They come in all types.