Pubdate: Sat, 02 Sep 2006 Source: Bradenton Herald (FL) Copyright: 2006 Bradenton Herald Contact: http://www.bradenton.com/mld/bradenton/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/58 Author: Stan Anderson SHERIFF PRIORITIES HIT Congratulations to the Sarasota County Sheriff's Department and the Sarasota Police Department SWAT teams for placing first and second respectively, in the Fourth Annual S.W.A.T. Competition held Aug. 26. (Even though The Herald only gave them credit for fourth place.) Unfortunately, even with all their experience raiding the penny-slot dens of iniquity, Manatee's team apparently fell a little short. Take heart, Sheriff Wells, I have noticed a dramatic decrease in the number of 80-year-old prostitutes on 14th Street, working to pay off their gambling and drug addiction debts, and that's a good thing, right? Drive-by shootings seem to be on the rise, but, what the heck, they're mostly drug-related anyway and who needs those people? I still fear for my safety in local malls, parking lots and convenience stores along Manatee roads and even in my home, but at least I don't have to deal with those renegade seniors. Seems like a win-win to me. Seriously Sheriff, what an embarrassment the leadership of the Manatee County Sheriff's Office has become to the citizens of Manatee and especially to the loyal, dedicated and hard-working deputies who unselfishly put their lives on the line for each of us every day. How about giving them and the citizens of the county some well-deserved support and protection from gang activity, drug violence, robbers, thieves and general ne'er-do-wells? Red-light runners are decidedly more of a public danger than penny-slots and bingo, and yet I see only basic lip service paid to that problem. Lots of rhetoric but very little positive action. Perhaps a little priority adjustment is in order? Stan Anderson Bradenton - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin