Polite officer keeping San Antonio streets safe

KENS 5 San Antonio ^ | Tuesday, September 15, 2009 | Deborah Knapp

[BraveMan]

It's a nearly universal reaction. you're driving down the road and see a policeman so you slow down. But in san Antonio, you just might be braking for the polite man.

When he bought his bike two years, Gary Grimes didn't realize how it would change his life...and others.

"When I came up behind a vehicle I noticed they'd be looking in their rear view mirrors quite a bit," said Grimes. "I realized they thought I was a cop because I have the same Hondo White wings motorcycle that SAPD uses."

So he had these decals that say "polite" made up and stuck them on his bike.

"I believe a lot of people misread it but it definitely works in my favor. They do drive more cautiously and carefully around me," he said.

It's not illegal to impersonate a polite officer.

"Some people will smile, I get the thumbs up, some people take pictures with their cell phones," Grimes says.

So far, no rude reactions.

"The group I ride with, the American Legion Riders know me as the polite guy. At the last rally the Blue Knights which are all made up of police men, came over and took pictures and said that is really neat," Grimes said.

Grimes drives his bike 90 miles a day commuting from Poteet to his job at UTSA where he teaches faculty and staff how to be better supervisors which includes being polite.

"That's how he leads his life. It fits him to a "t" to be known as the polite guy," says UTSA Librarian Posie Aagaard who is taking Grimes' course.

"I just try to be nice to everyone I can. It's not always possible, but I'm out there trying every day," said Grimes as he rode off on another polite patrol.

[BraveMan]

I wonder if he carries the hanky of steel . . .

[caddie]

This reminds me of the excellent comic strip, “Politenessman” that appeared in that great journal, The National Lampoon.

[B-Chan]

The Steel Hankie flies again!

[QBFimi]

ping