Because of the high level of crime here, for awhile I had a lot of interaction with local police. And I have tried to keep up with community-police interactions over the years. I know there have been some challenges and I know they are being addressed. I have some not so positive stories myself.

But most of my stories are good. Here is one.

Years back, Olympia was hit by another hate mail dump. People found incredibly horrible racist and anti-semitic flyers, all tucked neatly into rain proof baggies, on their lawns, along streets, etc.

I found one in a west side parking lot. I called the police department to talk with them about it, assuming that probably I would be blown off, they would not care.

But an officer drove out to talk with me in that parking lot. We had a great conversation. We talked about how hatred destroys communities, about the history of intolerance, about the health of Olympia.

The cop didn't give me a bad time about who and what I was. He gave me a some encouragement, some praise, lifted my spirits. I had an opportunity to pass on thanks for good policing work done in my neighborhood.

And I discovered that the police did care about what I had found and they did want me to tell them about it.