Respect isn't all in a name

Monday night, a resident approached me after the Hoffman Estates Village Board meeting. He said he'd read some of my stories and had a concern.

He didn't like that I used the word "cop" to describe police in crime stories. He said the slang was disrespectful, like calling an officer a "pig." I told him I used it as an abbreviation, and that no disrespect was intended. My grandfather was a cop, after all.

Police Chief Clinton Herdegen was nearby so I called him over and asked his opinion. He noted that "cop" stands for "citizens on patrol." He didn't seem to have much of a problem with the usage.

Herdegen also said he didn't expect respect but that it was more important to give respect to those he serves while on duty. A pretty good answer, I told him.

Now here comes the twist.

I left village hall no more than five minutes later and made a right turn onto Hassell Road from the village hall driveway when I saw police lights flashing behind me. A Hoffman Estates officer pulled me over just a couple hundred feet from village hall. I asked the officer why.

"For starters, you went through that stop sign on Kensington," he said.

I've left village hall many nights, and I thought I made a complete stop. I was perplexed. I handed over my license and insurance. The officer asked if I still lived in Chicago, and I told him I did.

"What are you doing here in Hoffman?" he asked.

I supposed I'd better have a good reason for drifting north, so I told him.

"I work for the Daily Herald, I cover the village meetings."

The officer returned to his squad car. I waited, anxious because I have to hit my deadline for the story I have to write up from the meeting. I'm still wondering what I did wrong and if I have to fight the fine through compliance court, which meets on Mondays, the same time I'm supposed to cover village board meetings.

Then the officer returned with my license - without issuing a ticket.

"Be more careful," he told me.

I never asked for the officer's name, and I drove home (at the speed limit) and wrote my story. I've been pulled over before for speeding. At least I knew what I did was wrong and admitted it to police. Like Chief Herdegen said, it's about giving respect.

I'm still wondering why I was pulled over. And no, I didn't call the officer a "cop."

• Do you have a Hoffman Estates story idea? Contact Ashok Selvam at (847) 427-4475 or aselvam@dailyherald.com.