A few weeks ago, I mentioned former police officer Barry Cooper and his hugely hyped but not-yet-released Never Get Busted video that purported to explain how not to get busted for drugs. My gut feeling was that it was going to be a big disappointment. Nevertheless, I ordered a copy, on the theory that I could watch it so that you don’t have to.
I haven’t received the video yet, but I just got an email which does not make me feel better about it:
Greetings Customers,
Thanks for your order. I am using the money to travel all over the nation to speak out against our unjust war on drugs.
Dude, you better not be. I’m pretty sure you’re not supposed to charge my card until you ship the product.
Due to the overwhelming demand because of the world attention my DVD has recieved, please allow the entire six weeks to recieve your order. I promise you will be satisfied with my product. I even added some extra footage for you since the media frenzie. All orders placed in February will be recieved within 3 week.
Re-check my website, www.nevergetbusted.com, to see a newly posted actual sneak preview of the DVD you ordered.
Remember: Save a child from molestation by releasing non-violent drug offenders!!!
Your friend,
Barry N. Cooper
CEO/NeverGetBusted.Com–The Most Trusted Name In Anti-Prohibition
“The Most Trusted Name In Anti-Prohibition”? No, I think that would be Ethan Nadelmann, Executive Director of the Drug Policy Alliance, or maybe Pete Guither at DrugWarRant, or maybe former Retired Seattle Police Chief Norm Stamper and the other 62 speakers at LEAP. This kind of self-serving promotion is unattractive.
However, when I clicked through and watched the sneak preview video, I have to say it wasn’t bad.
The preview is a segment of Cooper driving down the highway, looking at cars going by and explaining why some of them fit a profile that would attract the attention of a narcotics officer.
He sees a woman wiping her nose and says that would make him think she might have cocaine. Later he becomes interested in a car with a college sticker and four young people in it, saying that they’re probably marijuana smokers. I think he means that with four college students in a car, there’s a pretty good chance that at least one of them is holding pot.
He also says that he would stop cars with “D.A.R.E.” and “Say No To Drugs” stickers and find a lot of drugs that way. This sort of confirms my theory about police reaction to stickers on your car, which is that nothing you can put on your car will deter an officer, and a lot of things might get their attention or piss them off.
Some of Cooper’s advice seems pretty obvious, such as “Do not drive down the highway rolling a joint.” But since he says that right after actually finding and filming someone doing exactly that, maybe it was worth mentioning.
Cooper also says cops hate making narcotics stops on rainy days, because everybody gets wet, so there’s not much chance you’ll get stopped if it’s raining. I thought it was obvious that cops won’t want to get wet, but it’s interesting to hear they actually let it change their behavior. He even goes so far as directly saying that if you’re going to travel with drugs, do it on a rainy day. I was surprised by such a direct encouragement of a criminal act.
In general, Cooper comes across as an ex-cop who doesn’t have much affection for the job or the people that do it. Just in this short preview, he manages to paint his fellow officers as adrenaline junkies, racists, and liars.
The rest of his video might be interesting. At the very least, I expect some interesting insights into how drug cops do their job. That sort of thing is always fascinating, and that more than anything is why I ordered this video. No, really.
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