Saw a homeless man sitting on the corner today

[proud2BlibKansan]

I was sitting at a red light. As soon as I saw him I heard a noise and a cop pulled up next to me, turned on his siren briefly and then used his loudspeaker to say "What are you doing on my corner? You better get off my corner!!" Then the cop drove off.

So the cop OWNS the corner??

I couldn't believe it!

BTW, every driver sitting at that light rolled down their window and gave the homeless man some money. Then he walked away.

[ZombieHorde]

1. Since the economy has been bad a lot of cops have to moonlight as prostitutes. nt

[proud2BlibKansan]

2. LOL

Hadn't thought of that.

[varelse]

25. that's certainly one interpretation I'd never have come up with

:spray:

[DainBramaged]

3. maybe the Cop is fronting for the homeless guy???

:shrug:


People helped him out right?

[Warpy]

4. The cop did him a favor

Who knows, it might even be a running joke between them. Cops see homeless guys differently and often tap them for information about what's going on.

It's cold in Kansas. If the guy had sassed the cop, he'd have been taken in for 3 hots and a cot. The accommodations suck, but they're a little better than a shelter because you're not so afraid your stuff will get stolen.

He also built some sympathy for the guy. People who might have completely missed him turned generous.

It's a study in unintended consequences.

[proud2BlibKansan]

6. A friend of mine found a homeless guy frozen in the snow over the weekend

He took him to a shelter but they wouldn't take him because he was drunk. So he took him to a hospital and they wouldn't take him either. He ended up taking him to a mental health center and they agreed to keep him.

[Warpy]

7. Jesus.

I'm glad somebody took him.

This country will have to pay for being so uncaring.

Karma's gonna get us.

[niyad]

8. have been thinking the same thing for a very long time.

[GreenPartyVoter]

22. I agree.

[orion007]

15. We have an overnight shelter at one of our local churches

All are welcome and can be under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.
As long as the rules of behavior are followed it isn't an issue.
Anyone that we feel could have a medical issue arise is also closely watched while sleeping.
Our other shelter has a no drugs/alcohol policy,it's a residency shelter with many rules and regulations.
The church shelter was opened due to all the homeless people that would be exposed to the cold, and possible death, and this took years until a new female Pastor arrived at one church and said"enough".
All the other churches used their insurance policies as an excuse no to house an overnight shelter.
Our hospital's ER is always admitting people whose intoxication is at a dangerous level, and those that are going into alcohol withdrawls.
An intoxicated person who is homeless can also be brought to a police station any time of day or night and they will keep them until sober,
We have approx.25-30 people each night as guests including families.

[OI812]

17. Which mental health center? I want to send them a contribution.

Surely you can tell us the name of this place, right? I have my checkbook out and ready!

[proud2BlibKansan]

20. It's state funded

Western MO Mental Center

[GreenPartyVoter]

23. Bless you for doing that!

[dysfunctional press]

5. i thought that this was going to be a conan o'brien joke thread...

:shrug:

but- maybe the cop is familiar with the guy, and has already warned him about loitering/panhandling(if it's illegal) on that corner. cops can tend to get/use territorial terms to describe the area they patrol.

[REP]

11. When I lived there, there was a well-known panhandler named Jerry

He wasn't homeless, but he dressed the part and was aggressive and annoying. He mostly worked Plaza/Westport, but he'd drive to the 'burbs and do his routine. There were someothers who posed as homeless, but Crazy Jerry was the most brazen.

[proud2BlibKansan]

21. Jerry makes $80,000 a year

He filed a lawsuit against the city and won. And he is still on The Plaza all the time.

This guy I saw was not on The Plaza. It was in the hood.

[REP]

26. Down by the Goldmine?

Most neighborhoods in KC have names, or at least nicknames. If "hood" means "bad," that covers a lot of ground - from Midtown to Northeast.

[proud2BlibKansan]

27. Van Brunt under the I-70 bridge

[Little Star]

9. I think the MY Corner is like a My desk type comment.

[monmouth]

10. We have an old gent down here (harmless) that manages to get

jailed once a week for "trespassing." I know the sheriff's office takes him in to be sure he gets three squares and a clean bed, especially in the very cold weather down here right now. I check the arrest(s) daily for an attorney friend of mine who then sends the
Dear Mr./Ms...We noted your recent arrest and would like to offer our services, etc..... Poor soul is just an old man and I'm glad the deputies do this. He won't go to a shelter, says they're too dangerous..

[elocs]

12. I don't see homeless in my city because as much as people here hate it

the Salvation Army manages to find shelter for them. I do however see a panhandler who takes a taxi to a busy intersection and puts his coat across the street as he hold a sign that reads, "Will Work for Food". I think he does a good business, but he actually looks far too well feed and in good shape to be homeless. (They cannot force him to move because it is his Constitutional right to be there.)

[asdjrocky]

13. Cops, more than any others, treat the homeless horribly.

This does not, I'm sorry to say, surprise me.

[proteus_lives]

14. Everyone gave him money?

Sounds like the cop and the homeless were doing a two-part play.

If the cop was serious, he would have gotten out of his car and "moved him along".

I work a night job and next to it is an all-night gas station/store. Both bums and cops are always there. The cops use the homeless for info/rumors and buy them coffee/smokes/sandwiches.

[OI812]

16. How interesting.

...
Sorry, I do not believe that story.

[proud2BlibKansan]

24. And I don't care whether you believe it or not

I am a long time member here and I have enough credibility without needing your approval.

Enjoy your stay. :hi:

[Liberal_in_LA]

18. glad he got some money

[Canuckistanian]

19. I never realized cops were that bad off

Perhaps we should take up a collection for the cop.