The Police in Panama are a proud crew. They come in different forms – on bike, motorcycle, car, or the walking tourist police that can be found throughout Casco Viejo and choice areas of the city. The motorcycle cops ride in pairs, with the man in back dangerously wielding a machine gun on his shoulder, with full army fatigues and a little side beret.
So far I have only had two run-ins with the cops here. But my blond-haired gringa friends have a couple more stories that I will share with you. It seems that after being here for a while, when you see a cop, rather than fearing legal problems, you reach for your wallet. Traffic problems or failure to produce a passport can all be amended with a magical waive of $10. This may sound corrupt to you, but if you think about the salaries the officers are paid, and the trouble they are saving you when you are actually breaking the law, it is forgivable.
The first time cops approached me and two other female friends was for drinking outside at the Balboa Park along the sea wall around 11p.m. Luckily, I was the only one dawdling away with my beverage, and took the last sip just as the cop car pulled up. I refilled my glass with regular coke and put on the most innocent look of surprise that I could muster. Seeing as how I and my Colombian friend were new to the country, the old “but I don’t understand?” pouty-faced move could have saved the day, but we were accompanied by our Panamanian friend who might have been in a lot more trouble
In the end, I pulled out a copy of my passport, the Colombian had her national ID, and our Panamanian friend had her drivers’ license. We told the cop with honest faces that we had just come from a bar, but were not in fact drinking outside. Kinder than their faces suggested, they got back in their vehicle and drove away without trying to squeeze any dinero out of us.
While other friends’ stories usually end in some form of payment, overall the cops here are good guys. The region of Casco Viejo actually has its own police force with the goal of protecting tourists. They all speak English and will guide you to and from your destinations if they should happen to be off-the-beaten-path.
Uniforms amongst the ranks are varied, and often resemble military ware, perhaps leftovers from the once standing army. All in all, if you aren’t here to break any serious laws, they should not be feared.
Andrew Cowan lives and works in Panama with a <a href="http://www.panamarealestatepros.com"> Panama Real Estate</a> Company as well as <a href="http://www.thepanamareport.com"> Yahoo Panama</a>.
