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