Pubdate: Fri, 19 Dec 2003
Source: Richmond Times-Dispatch (VA)
Copyright: 2003 Richmond Newspapers Inc.
Contact:  http://www.timesdispatch.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/365
Author: Lawrence David Lanberg
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/hallucinogens.htm (Hallucinogens)

INTOXICATION PROVOKES DEADLY CONFRONTATIONS

Editor, Times-Dispatch:

The death of an intoxicated man in Cincinnati following his violent arrest 
triggers the normal retrospection by a concerned citizenry. We try to 
analyze for ourselves whether the police officers were ruthless brutes, 
whether they just made grave mistakes, or whether the officers performed 
their job as best as they could and the sad outcome was unavoidable.

More positively, many of us think of ways that such a situation will not 
occur here in our community. A reliable start is to grasp hold of an 
inevitable reality of both science and life in general - that for every 
action there is a reaction. It is certainly gripping that a naturally 
jovial, gentle person behaves totally differently while stoned on vile 
chemicals, or simply allows his mood to supersede self-discipline just for 
a few moments and is handed an unexpected death sentence as a result. 
Compelling, yes, but still an attack is taking place.

An elementary part of a police officer's function is not to allow himself 
to be attacked; it's difficult to protect the citizenry while suffering 
physical trauma (not to mention the obvious human aspect of enduring 
abuse). Preventive measures against such furious episodes are simple to 
view on paper, yet are forever worthwhile to read.

Any citizen will avoid unwelcome responses such as the one described by not 
attempting to use police officers, or anyone whatsoever, as punching bags. 
To forestall any likelihood of behaving in such a manner, try not consuming 
hallucinatory and dangerous chemicals to begin with.

Lawrence David Lanberg, Richmond
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