The first time I saw one of these was at a Fourth of July gathering in a public park. I saw the high blue lights and I figured it was marking some kind of portable police resource center. I had imagined some basic first aid and some officers ready for emergency assistance. I had imagined something that was partly a service and partly community outreach. I had imagined something with positive features.

I was so disappointed to find out it was just cameras. Quite an emotional trip in my head there, from “We’re here to help!” to “We’re watching you, fuckers” in the space of a moment.

But I guess the cops in my suburb are no better than the cops in any other suburb.