Not excusing the extortion here, but if you run a high-profit gray-area business, it can be a good idea to butter up the local cops.
There are many ways to do so legally, from equipment donations to contributing to the sheriff’s reelection campaign. For 0.1% of profits you can get them on your side in some situations that might come up:
- you get burgled
- federal law enforcement takes an interest in your industry and asks “who should we look at in your jurisdiction?”
- you need a flexible interpretation of local zoning or fire codes to run your operation, especially if cranky neighbors might complain about noise or smell.
Start with small contributions proactively before they make trouble.
You're normalizing corruption here. Specifically, recommending bribery. That can land you in more hot water than whatever "gray-area" business you're running.
Not if you make sure all of the bribes are legal, or else lobbying wouldn't be an entire industry.
edit: In Illinois, at least, for it to be bribery there needs to be proof of an explicit quid quo pro e.g. a recording of you saying "If you give me X, I will do Y."
Note that "I'm going to give you X," "What a coincidence, I'm going to do Y" does not count.
Also, holding a Concealed Carry license automatically gets the cops to like you. Show it when you're stopped (and tell them that you're not carrying unless you are)...
There are many ways to do so legally, from equipment donations to contributing to the sheriff’s reelection campaign. For 0.1% of profits you can get them on your side in some situations that might come up:
- you get burgled
- federal law enforcement takes an interest in your industry and asks “who should we look at in your jurisdiction?”
- you need a flexible interpretation of local zoning or fire codes to run your operation, especially if cranky neighbors might complain about noise or smell.
Start with small contributions proactively before they make trouble.