"Outspoken"

Police officer is the worst neighbour.
(Written 10 Jan 2003. Updated 19th Mar 2003)

How's this for a neighbour from hell. We share a portion of our side / back fence with a neighbour (who shall remain nameless). This neighbour also happens to be a police officer. Here are some examples of his behaviour that are very annoying...

1.    Playing loud music. This police officer often plays very loud music, which due to the closeness of our houses (being on small blocks) the sound travels straight into our house. But it is not just the volume of the music, but it is that it is often heavy metal music, and often from groups that have foul language in the lyrics. As I have 2 your daughters, I find it most inappropriate for them to be exposed to such material.

2.    Very noisy parties. His parties are not just noisy, but are dam irresponsible. His drunken guests hang out in the back yard yelling and screaming out swear words at the top of their voices. Surely as a police officer he should be able to control his own guests! Or perhaps it is actually him yelling out swear words! Early this year (about Jan 4 2003) he had a party that was so loud and so much swearing, that we had to re-locate our girls from their bedrooms to other areas, to reduce their exposure to foul language. No-one should have to move their own kids from their own rooms, to protect them from idiot neighbours. On his new-years eve party, Dec 31, 2002, his drunken yobo party animal guests were screaming and yelling out till 4AM. They were even banging (or throwing things at) our colour bond fence, which being metal, makes a hell of a noise.

3.    Parking his car on the street. This rogue cop is into hot street cars. Previously he owned a black "mad max" Ford Falcon coupe 351 (XA, XB or XC). Now he has a Holden Monaro HQ (or similar). But he stores the race car in his double garage, along side his missus's car, leaving no room for his Ford Fairlane. But instead of parking his Fairlane in his driveway, he chooses to park it in his street (Manchester Drive), which is not only degrading our suburb's look, but it is downright dangerous, creating a major obstacle for local traffic. Why does he park it there? Does it drip oil, and he doesn't want to spoil his brick paved driveway? If so, he is a cop, and therefore should give his own car a yellow sticker! It seems that this police officer is beyond the law. He also outright ignores the covenants that are in our estate, which clearly states that you can store cars out out the front. In fact, it also states that you cant leave cars, boats or caravans in the front of the house at all, including the driveway. All must be behind closed gates etc.

Adding to the character of this police officer is the fact that when we approached them to pay their mere $250 towards our shared fencing costs, he asked for an extension, and did not pay until 1 year had passed. The amount was only $250, and the fencing laws in our area clearly state that it is payable within 3 months of practical completing of the dwelling. Whilst we waited for our puny amount of money, pergolas went up costing thousands, brick paving, gardens etc. It seems that he feels that being a cop gives him the right to abuse laws, and make little effort to do the "right thing" by his neighbours.

This policeman also appears to be quite anti-social, and has not made any effort to get to know his neighbours. We see most of our neighbours regularly, and even exchange Christmas cars etc, but not him. He does not seem interested. So, is this cop any good? Perhaps he is just a quite, honest guy with out of control mates and no understanding of covenants. Or perhaps he is a bad cop, a corrupt cop, who knows. It is a bit scary really, because if I get on the bad side of a bent cop, then he could make my life hell. I certainly hope that corruption in the police force is not in my neighbourhood, or even next door!

So, what do I do? Who am I going to call when he next has a wild party? Call the cops? 

Update - 1 Nov 2003:

I am very pleased to say that this neighbour has sold his house and moved elsewhere. I feel sorry for the next lot of neighbours that this person moves next to.

 These pages were last updated on 1 Nov 2003.