We had about 10 guys out spotting today, and after lunch, with 31R active, we ended up at Firestone. After more than an hour, an NCPD car pulled up (it was the sector car for the area). He asked about us taking photos, and said they were on increased watch due to the UN General Assembly. I told him that was why we were there, due to all the unusual traffic the UN was generating. He said we weren't doing anything illegal, but needed to phone it in. After speaking with his sergeant, he said he would need to complete a "field report" and take our information, but we were welcome to continue photographing while he did so.
After reporting his location on the radio, two more patrol cars, with a total of 3 more officers, showed up. Two of the officers pretty much stayed in the background, but the third was a bit more "gung-ho" (as the first officer later described it) about checking us out, mentioning that it was a private parking lot and the stores could press trespassing charges if they wanted to. The first officer took info from most of us, and eventually the other three left. The first officer spent some time phoning in a report, and he and I spoke for several minutes before he left. He said that due to the UN activity, they have been instructed to be more vigilant, and are checking a number of locations in the area repeatedly during the day. Since we were a large group, and it was his post, he needed to be proactive and check us out rather than wait for someone to call it in. I told him I understood he had a job to do, and was glad to cooperate. He was certainly more "relaxed" about the encounter than the other officer.
In all, it wasn't a bad encounter, although it was the most scrutiny I have received at Firestone in ages. Given the UN activity, I can't blame them, but I hope this isn't a sign that things will escalate in the future. We all need to be mindful of the situation, that the officer on patrol has a job to do and orders to carry out, and remember to always act professionally when dealing with law enforcement.
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