Police with Guns - Stories from Buenos Aires

Guns scare me, but Argentine cops with guns scare me even more. As you read on, I am sure you will understand why. Those wide eyes and panicked expressions do not inspire confidence!

Story Number One:

Walking late at night under a train bridge in Palermo, near the intersection of Cervino and Bullrich, where there is a shopping centre, a guy passed by me yelling and muttering to himself. He was obviously mentally ill or seriously drunk. Across the road, was a hot dog stand where 4 taxi drivers were talking and eating. Just like me, they were looking away trying not to attract this guy's attention.

Then suddenly, about 20 cops in paramilitary outfits with automatic rifles and pistols drawn came running around the corner. The guy in lead faced me and barked "Que pasa?" (Whats happening?), to which I responded as I edged warily away and shrugging, "es solo un loco" (it's only a crazy guy). Then one cop pointed at the crazy guy who was about 40 metres away in the middle of the road, and they all charged after him, forgetting me.

Man, these guys were on a mission, so I just walked as fast as calmly possible to the corner and then got the hell outta there! As I moved down the block, I could hear yelling but no gunshots so I suppose that those freaked out commando cops just apprehended the poor, harmless crazy guy.

Story Number Two:

Riding on the Retiro-Constitucion subway line, two stops from Constitucion Station, I noticed a commotion on the other end of my subway car and everyone started rushing to my side in panic. Just then the car came into the station and everyone rushed off and started for the exit, carrying me along with them.