Pubdate: Fri, 17 Aug 2012
Source: Dallas Morning News (TX)
Copyright: 2012 The Dallas Morning News, Inc.
Contact: http://www.dallasnews.com/cgi-bin/lettertoed.cgi
Website: http://www.dallasnews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/117
Author: Don Skaggs

WHY SHOULD POLICE BE THE ONES TO CHANGE?

Re: "Building police trust, protection - Brown wants more outreach, 
guidance for officers after shootings," Thursday news story.

Your neighborhood has drug dealers operating openly out of one of its 
houses. A drug dealer is shot and killed by the police while fleeing 
from arrest and fighting with the arresting officer. Your 
neighborhood blames the police for this death and is on the verge of 
rioting because of false information that is widespread. In reaction 
to this incident, the police chief enacts additional restrictions on 
his police offers in dealing with those who flee from the police and 
requires additional training for his officers relative to enforcing the law.

Will the chief's initiatives directed at his police officers make for 
a safer community or should the onus be placed on a community that 
harbors drug houses and tolerates drug dealers rather than the police?

Is this an exercise in political correctness or an attempt to do the 
right thing?

Don Skaggs, Garland
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom