Run-In with BRPD; Are Cops Not Concerned with their Image?

Trying to get a quick nine in at historic City Course before my flight tonight, and I turn the corner to see some Memorial Day festivities afoot at the city course parking lot, which also means the entire course parking lot is blocked-off.

I give Tony a call at the pro shop and ask if they're still open. Tony tells me just to move the barriers and then move it back; customers are still permitted to enter. I can't find a uniformed officer, so I did what any non-criminal with a valid reason for being at city course would do: moved the barrier so I could drive throjgh.

Corporal Whoever with the BRPD comes up to me, hips to his side, and barks 'Can you give me any LEGAL reason why you moved my barrier!?" His initial demeanor, especially in an obvious non-life threatening situation, was completely unnecessary and equally hilarious.

I'm like first of all, a 'legal reason'? WTH does that even mean (I love it when cops pretend they know the law). He was your classic stereotypical good-ol-baw cop we all know and love.

Second, I communicated to him that I talked to the pro shop and they told me to move the barrier and then move it back once I was in.

When I cross-examined him a little bit, he admitted yes, that was what he told the pro shop, but he intended for us to use the other side of the parking lot. I then pointed out that it was obviously an honest mistake, to which he begrudgingly agreed.

I pressed him a little more about how the job of cops is to help people, and what do you know?; he helped a tax-paying citizen, which was what he was there for. Funny how his tone changed completely from when he thought he could intimidate me.

Never mind the fact I'm in a white man in a golf visor and a Land Rover, obviously looking for the golf course 50 feet away.

Are cops these days just so soft that they can't approach a situation with a little bit of confidence and try to help people?

Seems to me in the Capital City climate as of late, if I was a cop I would be a little more concerned about public perception of my department and not engage the false-tough-guy approach from the beginning.