Roeland Park Police Dept

1 Comment

1. Anonymous User: Aug 24, 2021

   I drive for Uber. In the early morning hours of Aug. 4th, I was headed to pick up a scheduled ride in Roeland Park, Ks. As I entered the neighborhood of my riders, I noticed a police vehicle sitting in the dark with the lights out. As rode down the street I see the vehicle start moving through my rear view mirror. Lights still off. I parked in front of passengers house, and turn on my flashers. I then realize I’m 15 minutes early. So I turn off all my flashers and headlights, just leaving on my park lights. Moments later I notice that police vehicle approaching now with the lights on, with a headlight on the right side out. He travels by me, and keeps on going up the street. A few minutes later, he comes back down towards me going the opposite direction. A few moments later, he comes back. Pulls up behind me, and activates his lights. I’m thinking, here we go! At the same time my passengers open up their front door. And I’m hoping they hurry up and come out so he can see that I’m Uber. Officer approaches my car on the passenger side, and begins questioning basically why am I there. And that’s when things got tense. I told him I was Uber, and I was picking up these two home owners, and taking them too the airport. My passenger approached my vehicle with the officer standing there and asked who I was there for. I told him Diane. The passenger then said too the officer, he’s our Uber driver. So I popped open my trunk, and got out the car to help these folks put their luggage in my trunk. That still wasn’t good enough for the officer. As I’m trying to convince him to let me do my job. And telling him how embarrassing it was for him too still he here trying to seek more information from me. I don’t care that you’ve had some car burglars in that neighborhood! And clearly I’m not one of them. And asked him if he would please leave. Eventually he went back to his patrol vehicle. Moments later. Here comes another officer who decided I’m going too add gas to an already burning fire. Now (she), the other officer gets out of her vehicle asking me questions about how and why I was leaning up against my vehicle. Now my passenger gets involved when he here’s our exchange not going I’m a good way. He ask her was this racially motivated, because we already been through this, and they were possibly going to miss there flight. She answers back, “Dont go there! I’m married to a black man!” And now they are treating this as me being detained. And telling me I can’t leave until I provide ID. Now my frustration is increasing. Because I showed them I was an Uber driver, by showing the active app on my phone. Even after my passengers identified me as their ride to the airport. And placed their luggage in my trunk. But they continue to escalate the situation. I had asked the second officer for her badge number, since she is the main reason for the escalation. Because we had it pretty much resolved until she pulled up acting every bit of cocky. If it wasn’t for the fact that I had to take these folks to the airport. I gave the 1st officer my license so we could go. Just because I was frustrated out of embarrassment, made them feel like they had to make me comply too their demands. Horrible policing too say the least. And they should be reprimanded for their behavior. And yes I have their badge numbers. If they gave me the correct info. I saw the first officer when I entered the neighborhood. Then he drove by twice before confronting me. If I was a burglar of some sort. Why would I remain in the vicinity with police presence. All that officer had to do was ask me if i was okay. Which I then could of identified myself as Uber. Especially after passenger identified me as his driver. And went on his way. And this is why we have some who don’t trust police. Because of these types who don’t know how too simply deescalate.