| The Police in Panama are a proud crew. They | | | | that I could muster. Seeing as how I and my |
| come in different forms - on bike, motorcycle, | | | | Colombian friend were new to the country, the |
| car, or the walking tourist police that can be found | | | | old "but I don't understand?" pouty-faced move |
| throughout Casco Viejo and choice areas of the | | | | could have saved the day, but we were |
| city. The motorcycle cops ride in pairs, with the | | | | accompanied by our Panamanian friend who might |
| man in back dangerously wielding a machine gun | | | | have been in a lot more trouble In the end, I |
| on his shoulder, with full army fatigues and a little | | | | pulled out a copy of my passport, the Colombian |
| side beret. So far I have only had two run-ins | | | | had her national ID, and our Panamanian friend had |
| with the cops here. But my blond-haired gringa | | | | her drivers' license. We told the cop with honest |
| friends have a couple more stories that I will | | | | faces that we had just come from a bar, but |
| share with you. It seems that after being here | | | | were not in fact drinking outside. Kinder than their |
| for a while, when you see a cop, rather than | | | | faces suggested, they got back in their vehicle |
| fearing legal problems, you reach for your wallet. | | | | and drove away without trying to squeeze any |
| Traffic problems or failure to produce a passport | | | | dinero out of us. While other friends' stories |
| can all be amended with a magical waive of $10. | | | | usually end in some form of payment, overall the |
| This may sound corrupt to you, but if you think | | | | cops here are good guys. The region of Casco |
| about the salaries the officers are paid, and the | | | | Viejo actually has its own police force with the |
| trouble they are saving you when you are actually | | | | goal of protecting tourists. They all speak English |
| breaking the law, it is forgivable. The first time | | | | and will guide you to and from your destinations if |
| cops approached me and two other female | | | | they should happen to be off-the-beaten-path. |
| friends was for drinking outside at the Balboa | | | | Uniforms amongst the ranks are varied, and |
| Park along the sea wall around 11p.m. Luckily, I | | | | often resemble military ware, perhaps leftovers |
| was the only one dawdling away with my | | | | from the once standing army. All in all, if you |
| beverage, and took the last sip just as the cop | | | | aren't here to break any serious laws, they should |
| car pulled up. I refilled my glass with regular coke | | | | not be feared. |
| and put on the most innocent look of surprise | | | | |