Having a working brain is not required when working for the police.
The police are an easy target here, they can be blamed by either side no matter what they do. Poor reporting by the press also makes it seem to be much more than it is, or was. Since 9/11 and subsequent attacks and domestic issues aroud the globe no police force is allowed to ignore "tips", no matter how ridiculous. They have to follow up and make an investigation. That is and should be understood. How they behave during that investigation is where I believe there may be room for comment. As long as it is conducted in a professional and (as applicable) courteous manner, I understand and approve. It is the price for the world we now live in and the games we want to play as collectors.
The media has a tendency to take things out of context and turn them into events that did not occur however, and these reports should be taken with a grain of salt. In the first two sentences of the article link provided it states the "Police stormed a home" followed by "turned up on his doorstep". Which sells papers? In pzgr40's photo below you have a photo, which may or may not have been taken by police. The article certainly was not written by police.
I work with a significant number of these officers on a daily basis. They have my friendship and my respect. They are tasked with adding these issues to their ever growing list of responsiblities to police, trained or not. Many of them have the same interests and hobbies that we do, many of them sympathize with our issues. They are not perfect, and not all are nice people, but by and large they work for professional organizations and most of them are proud to work in a professional manner.
I find it facinating that many of us who have the greatest investment in the future of collecting take this attitude with law enforcement. On our own threads we repeatedly see photos from people who have dug things up in forests, purchased items from those diving for relics, had injuries or arrests from illegal items or activities related to their collections - and we blame and accuse those who put themselves between the public and potential harms way?
I continue to advocate open and honest cooperation with your local authorities. Take the time and effort to learn your local regulations, then meet with your locals and work with them. Demonstrate your understanding of the rules and your williness to function within the rules and you can use these same rules as a blanket of protection against misunderstanding from pissed off neighbors and ex-girlfriends.
Not just picking on pzgr40 here, there are plenty of people in plenty of threads. I understand fear of misunderstanding by those outside our community. What I fail to understand is failure to do something constructive about it.
