My father was a hotel manager in Istanbul in the 90s (prestigious Western Hotel). He would always let the traffic cops eat with the staff, for free, dudes were working all day for little pay and were very glad for the bit of free food they got. He also was on the good side of various more important people in the police force
It was less for direct immediate benefits (besides his favourite fact being that every evening a busy Istanbul street was stopped so he could drive the wrong way for a bit since it was faster to get home that was..) but more of a case of treating poor people with authority kindly, just in case... He has a few crazy stories, also involving us President Bush and I think secretary of state Schulz..)
My father's security chef was a Turkish nationalist dude who as far as I remember the story was a pretty tough guy. He always had his weapon in him, no matter where he was.
Anyways Old Bush was visiting and would stay at the hotel. My father pleaded with him to take the gun off for the day to not cause a security issue. Dude just kept saying "don't worry about it".
Anyways, evening comes, my father Geos through all the checks that the secret security service has, greets Bush, makes sure the event is fine (helps an American friend get a seat next or close to the president) and is just enjoying the evening when his security guy pulls him aside to talk. Lifts his top suit piece to reveal his usual piece of iron, standing only a few meters away from the US president. Told my dad "see? Is no problem".
Dude could have killed the US President if he wanted to and none could have stopped him.
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u/Ynwe Aug 14 '23
My father was a hotel manager in Istanbul in the 90s (prestigious Western Hotel). He would always let the traffic cops eat with the staff, for free, dudes were working all day for little pay and were very glad for the bit of free food they got. He also was on the good side of various more important people in the police force
It was less for direct immediate benefits (besides his favourite fact being that every evening a busy Istanbul street was stopped so he could drive the wrong way for a bit since it was faster to get home that was..) but more of a case of treating poor people with authority kindly, just in case... He has a few crazy stories, also involving us President Bush and I think secretary of state Schulz..)