Befriending A Pattaya Police Officer. Pros And Cons?

[beachroadlover2]

I have recently started chatting online with a police officer working at Pattaya police station. I have invited him to join a sports club and offered to teach him English. We are set to meet this week for the first time.

I must admit, I am a little nervous and need some encouragement/insight into whether this is a good move or not. I enjoy making new friends and his uniform is only his job, we're no different, right? I have never had a Thai male friend, let alone a cop.

On the other hand, from reading so many stories on the forums, I feel keeping a low profile would be better than rubbing shoulders with police.

One might think we could both help each other. I can introduce him to my sports club, help him improve his English, give him insight into foreigners, introduce him to my friends/family here, etc. Maybe one day I'll have legal trouble, and he could help?

There's also a little voice in my head that is paranoid and thinks the worst. I won't elaborate now so as to not influence the answers. Thank you.

[HeavyDrinker]

Having a few friends in the force never hurt anyone here.

However, maybe you should forget about him being a cop and concentrate on the attributes which have made him seem like good friend material to you. He could well be looking for friends who aren't just sucking up to him because of the uniform...

[beachroadlover2]

Having a few friends in the force never hurt anyone here.

However, maybe you should forget about him being a cop and concentrate on the attributes which have made him seem like good friend material to you. He could well be looking for friends who aren't just sucking up to him because of the uniform...

Excellent advice.

Edited November 4, 2012 by metisdead
30) Do not modify someone else's post in your quoted reply, either with font or color changes, added emoticons, or altered wording.

[davethailand]

Chatting online???

I'd be cautious.

[beachroadlover2]

Chatting online???

I'd be cautious.

Facebook.

[Boater]

I have a couple of friends who are bib ... Can be very useful to have !

[beachroadlover2]

I have a couple of friends who are bib ... Can be very useful to have !

Do you treat them as peers or are they gently reminding you in subtle ways of their status? Do they pay their own way at the pub? Can you speak frankly with them?

[hansnl]

The higher in rank the better!

[luudee]

My ex-wife went to school with a bunch of bib, and even worked for the

soi 9 station as an intern for a while.

It all depends on your motives. After many many years and a divorce, I still

have two good friends (bib). If you are befriending bib because you think

you will be above the law, don't bother. You have to befriend the police

chief himself for that !

Make fiends because of their character and value as a human being, not

because of their job.

What possibly could a bib do for you ? Any traffic situation you get in to, you

have to deal with the responding officer, your "friends" will NOT be able to

help - there is a chain of command, even in Thailand. Always be polite and

honest and admit it if you are in fault, as hard as it sometimes is. You will

get more credit for honesty and standing up than any bib friends.

If you are planning to rob a bank, or similar, your bib fiends will be the first

ones to turn you in. They don't want to be associated with a criminal figure,

specially a foreigner.

And of course there are the bib's that see a farang as an ATM machine !

They will promise you to "protect" you and "take care of you" for a small

"support fee" for the poor family. These guys are outright crooks ...

Another big misunderstand is about who is who in the bib biz. Most bib,

are just simple traffic cops without any say. Some have higher standings,

like the drug units. They are typically more respected and feared. And

than there are even higher posts ...

Would you befriend a Police Officer in your country because he is a cop ?

Would he help you ?

Cheers,

rudi

[miksguevara]

My ex-wife went to school with a bunch of bib, and even worked for the

soi 9 station as an intern for a while.

It all depends on your motives. After many many years and a divorce, I still

have two good friends (bib). If you are befriending bib because you think

you will be above the law, don't bother. You have to befriend the police

chief himself for that !

Make fiends because of their character and value as a human being, not

because of their job.

What possibly could a bib do for you ? Any traffic situation you get in to, you

have to deal with the responding officer, your "friends" will NOT be able to

help - there is a chain of command, even in Thailand. Always be polite and

honest and admit it if you are in fault, as hard as it sometimes is. You will

get more credit for honesty and standing up than any bib friends.

If you are planning to rob a bank, or similar, your bib fiends will be the first

ones to turn you in. They don't want to be associated with a criminal figure,

specially a foreigner.

And of course there are the bib's that see a farang as an ATM machine !

They will promise you to "protect" you and "take care of you" for a small

"support fee" for the poor family. These guys are outright crooks ...

Another big misunderstand is about who is who in the bib biz. Most bib,

are just simple traffic cops without any say. Some have higher standings,

like the drug units. They are typically more respected and feared. And

than there are even higher posts ...

Would you befriend a Police Officer in your country because he is a cop ?

Would he help you ?

Cheers,

rudi

this post is a bit cynical? maybe he likes the bloke?

[MTH]

My ex-wife went to school with a bunch of bib, and even worked for the

soi 9 station as an intern for a while.

It all depends on your motives. After many many years and a divorce, I still

have two good friends (bib). If you are befriending bib because you think

you will be above the law, don't bother. You have to befriend the police

chief himself for that !

Make fiends because of their character and value as a human being, not

because of their job.

What possibly could a bib do for you ? Any traffic situation you get in to, you

have to deal with the responding officer, your "friends" will NOT be able to

help - there is a chain of command, even in Thailand. Always be polite and

honest and admit it if you are in fault, as hard as it sometimes is. You will

get more credit for honesty and standing up than any bib friends.

If you are planning to rob a bank, or similar, your bib fiends will be the first

ones to turn you in. They don't want to be associated with a criminal figure,

specially a foreigner.

And of course there are the bib's that see a farang as an ATM machine !

They will promise you to "protect" you and "take care of you" for a small

"support fee" for the poor family. These guys are outright crooks ...

Another big misunderstand is about who is who in the bib biz. Most bib,

are just simple traffic cops without any say. Some have higher standings,

like the drug units. They are typically more respected and feared. And

than there are even higher posts ...

Would you befriend a Police Officer in your country because he is a cop ?

Would he help you ?

Cheers,

rudi

Some good advice, about why and who to make friends with, but on the whole you’re totally off the wall. If you’re ex-wife went to school and befriended “a bunch of the (bibs)”, and “even worked with them”, then you should know better.