[Harp-L] Re: Musicians and the Law

["jazmaan@xxxxxxxxxxx" <dmf273@xxxxxxxxx>]

I can vouch for what Gary says.   This isn't 1967 anymore folks.  Canned Heat's amusing lyric to
"My Crime"  may have been true then, but based on my 25 years of law-enforcement experience, I'd
say those days are long gone.  Sure some musicians are still going to have bad encounters, but in
my jurisdiction you may be more likely to get a better shake than a non-musician!

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Will & All,

As a Magistrate for the city, I hold probable cause hearings all day 
long and have many officers testify.  I keep an acoustic guitar on a 
stand next to me, and 3 harmonicas on my desk.  During lulls in 
action, I'll practice my harps or guitar.
Many officers, before a hearing commences, look at the guitar and 
say, "May I?", then pick it up and stumble through the opening of 
Stairway to Heaven, or a blues riff, or whatever.  My point is, many 
of my officers play an instrument, and I detect no bias at all 
against musicians.
An officer, going out on a call, has no idea who's a threat and who 
is not, and must  approach any situation with safety foremost on 
their mind.   Everyone they meet on a call is potentially a bad guy, 
but once they see you're a "normal" person, who poses no threat to 
them or the public, they'll loosen up a bit.
Understand the situation from their perspective, and contacts with 
them will end up "friendlier."

Gary Cohen
Magistrate, City of Mobile