Panera Parking Lot 02/26/2011
So today we welcomed a new Nassau County PO to the hobby. A Female officer positioned had been parked right next to the garbage disposal container at the newly opened Panera Bread for about 15 minutes when she then drove her RMP towards us who were standing next to our cars closer to the entrance than to Panera.
She smiled politely and I immediately approached her on her driver's side window. She was visibly concerned with our actions. I said hello, she said hello,,,
PO: What are you doing?
Me: Taking pictures of planes
PO: Why?
Me: Because we love airplanes and photographing them.
By this time Mark had also come over.
PO: Well, don;t you think that's kind of strange given what's going on?
Me: No, not really, what's going on?
She and I exchanged some more small talk regarding the hobby and how widespread it is etc. etc. but she never ever answered my question about her suggestion that 'something was/is going on"
So, it ended up with a request for IDs which we immediately produced. She then asked:
PO: What about them other two? Do they have ID?
We called Kaz and Chris over who also quickly produced valid ID. Chris was questioned as to why he was here from Maryland to which Chris responded 'I am ALSO from Brooklyn and then she quickly let that go (she seemed intent in finding something wrong or odd with our behavior.) Mark did ask her if someone called us in which she said "Yes" which figures why she came over in the first place after observing us for quite some time.
The Officer then left without saying much. Other officers usually ask us to report anything wrong if we see it before they leave us.
Other Nassau County officers and RMPs simply drive past us all the time knowing about us already and there is even a Sub Station within earshot of our usual location.
To round out the day, we moved over to The Mounds as JFK switched RWYs and there were two NYPD RMPs chatting with each other while we were spotting until we left. When I left, I waved goodbye which they reciprocated.
