When is the last time you shook a policeman's hand, appreciative of the good work he had done for you? I live in Chile and I just did so.
In America, I would never think of doing the same thing. Cops are to be feared there. They are not helpful allies in the fight against crime. In many urban areas, an American is more likely to be victimized by the police rather than helped by them. The internet and You Tube are chock full of reports of police abuse in the United States. It is becoming a common reality of a politically correct society rather than a shocking exception. Europe is not far behind with cops beating people with clubs in Barcelona and Northeastern Italy.
In America, "the land of the free," Jack-booted thugs in uniform break down doors and intimidate innocent people. They plant GPS tracking devices on their cars without informing the person under surveillance. They violate the rights that Americans have guaranteed in the Bill of Rights. They will arrest a person for dancing, taser him for having a "bad attitude" or imprison him for suspicion based on a false accusation of an opportunist.
On the other hand, if a crime is committed, the cops are often no help. They will not come to defend you most of the time. Nor will they, much of the time anyway, try to apprehend a criminal that assails you. They will often discard a matter brought to their attention by declaring that it is "civil." Other than handing out traffic taxes (tickets), American cops can be counted on to be seen but not heard. And most Americans are satisfied with that arrangement as fear of cops continues to grow.
In Chile, things are different. Not only are the cops not corrupt like they are in every other Latin American country, they are actually helpful and efficient.
Examples abound. A couple of years ago I was driving my car in the south of Chile. At a routine stop a carabinero (Chilean cop) found that my car registration had not been paid (about US$40 on my used car). I had no idea. Normally, my car would have had to have been impounded on the spot. Instead, the policeman told me that he would act like he never saw me but that I had better get the tax paid right away. So he sent me on my way. I was very pleased, and I paid the tax the next day.
I have been lost, too, driving in some remote area of Chile. When all else failed, I proceeded without hesitation to the carabinero station to make my inquiry. Such events have almost always resulted in success.
In other cases I have been cited by the carabineros for traffic infractions. But to their credit, I was guilty as charged. And in some cases I got off with just a warning. The point is that in Chile the cops still treat you like a human being, and they understand that you can make a mistake at times. They are not itching to leap at an opportunity to flex their muscles or put you in your place.
There is not a latent urge in the cops here to have chance to show their might or use force, hurting citizens. Plus, as my wife says, if they did become that way, Chileans would likely rise up and lynch them on the spot! It is only those like cowardly Americans who put up with such evil.
Today, I had to visit the police station to report fraudulent use of my credit card overseas. The bank's fraud department had spotted the problem and directed me to make a police report, known as a constancia in Chile.
I entered the building and walked into the room where the three carabineros worked to take such reports. They are busy, mainly with reports of car accessory theft or car damage for insurance purposes. I interrupted one of them to inquire if I was in the right place. He affirmed that I was. So I sat down and waited.
My wait was prolonged when the station's server went down for 10 minutes. But other than that I was out of there in short order. The carabinero took the information from my credit card, my national ID card and the bank's fraud department's findings and entered them into his system. I left with a printout showing a case number.
The cop did his job so well and efficiently that I shook his hand and wished him a good day. He responded in like manner, courteously saying goodbye.
One of the benefits of living in Chile is that society is civil. Cops are not marauding bands of thugs to be fear but rather people who are willing to help. As I said earlier, one can even stop and ask a cop for directions (without fear) and he will usually give a helpful reply. How does that reality compare with where you live? When is the last time you thought about approaching a cop for directions?
Do you have reason to fear the cops where you live like so many Americans do? If so, maybe it is time for you to consider immigrating to Chile, not only on account of having better cops, but because of the many virtues that the country provides.
In America, I would never think of doing the same thing. Cops are to be feared there. They are not helpful allies in the fight against crime. In many urban areas, an American is more likely to be victimized by the police rather than helped by them. The internet and You Tube are chock full of reports of police abuse in the United States. It is becoming a common reality of a politically correct society rather than a shocking exception. Europe is not far behind with cops beating people with clubs in Barcelona and Northeastern Italy.
In America, "the land of the free," Jack-booted thugs in uniform break down doors and intimidate innocent people. They plant GPS tracking devices on their cars without informing the person under surveillance. They violate the rights that Americans have guaranteed in the Bill of Rights. They will arrest a person for dancing, taser him for having a "bad attitude" or imprison him for suspicion based on a false accusation of an opportunist.
On the other hand, if a crime is committed, the cops are often no help. They will not come to defend you most of the time. Nor will they, much of the time anyway, try to apprehend a criminal that assails you. They will often discard a matter brought to their attention by declaring that it is "civil." Other than handing out traffic taxes (tickets), American cops can be counted on to be seen but not heard. And most Americans are satisfied with that arrangement as fear of cops continues to grow.
In Chile, things are different. Not only are the cops not corrupt like they are in every other Latin American country, they are actually helpful and efficient.
Examples abound. A couple of years ago I was driving my car in the south of Chile. At a routine stop a carabinero (Chilean cop) found that my car registration had not been paid (about US$40 on my used car). I had no idea. Normally, my car would have had to have been impounded on the spot. Instead, the policeman told me that he would act like he never saw me but that I had better get the tax paid right away. So he sent me on my way. I was very pleased, and I paid the tax the next day.
I have been lost, too, driving in some remote area of Chile. When all else failed, I proceeded without hesitation to the carabinero station to make my inquiry. Such events have almost always resulted in success.
In other cases I have been cited by the carabineros for traffic infractions. But to their credit, I was guilty as charged. And in some cases I got off with just a warning. The point is that in Chile the cops still treat you like a human being, and they understand that you can make a mistake at times. They are not itching to leap at an opportunity to flex their muscles or put you in your place.
There is not a latent urge in the cops here to have chance to show their might or use force, hurting citizens. Plus, as my wife says, if they did become that way, Chileans would likely rise up and lynch them on the spot! It is only those like cowardly Americans who put up with such evil.
Today, I had to visit the police station to report fraudulent use of my credit card overseas. The bank's fraud department had spotted the problem and directed me to make a police report, known as a constancia in Chile.
I entered the building and walked into the room where the three carabineros worked to take such reports. They are busy, mainly with reports of car accessory theft or car damage for insurance purposes. I interrupted one of them to inquire if I was in the right place. He affirmed that I was. So I sat down and waited.
My wait was prolonged when the station's server went down for 10 minutes. But other than that I was out of there in short order. The carabinero took the information from my credit card, my national ID card and the bank's fraud department's findings and entered them into his system. I left with a printout showing a case number.
The cop did his job so well and efficiently that I shook his hand and wished him a good day. He responded in like manner, courteously saying goodbye.
One of the benefits of living in Chile is that society is civil. Cops are not marauding bands of thugs to be fear but rather people who are willing to help. As I said earlier, one can even stop and ask a cop for directions (without fear) and he will usually give a helpful reply. How does that reality compare with where you live? When is the last time you thought about approaching a cop for directions?
Do you have reason to fear the cops where you live like so many Americans do? If so, maybe it is time for you to consider immigrating to Chile, not only on account of having better cops, but because of the many virtues that the country provides.
Dr. Cobin’s book, Life in Chile: A Former American’s Guide for Newcomers, is the most comprehensive treatise on Chilean life ever written, designed to help newcomers get settled in Chile. He covers almost ever topic imaginable for immigrants. This knowledge is applied in his valet consulting service, where he guides expatriates through the process of finding a place to live and settle in Chile, helping them glide over the speed bumps that they would otherwise face in getting their visas, setting up businesses, buying real estate, investing in Chilean stocks or gold coins, etc.
Buy Dr. Cobin’s Public Policy books at Amazon.com:
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