Letters to the Editors

In fighting crime, police and residents work side by side

I'm writing to reassure Clearwater residents that their safety, their sense of security and the sanctity of their neighborhoods are paramount in the minds of Clearwater police officers.

Several residents of a west Clearwater neighborhood expressed some concern recently about crime activity, juvenile problems and the deterioration of their neighborhood (Meet me at the corner to take back Clearwater, letter, June 12), and wondered if the city of Clearwater and the Police Department are doing enough to combat the physical and societal erosion.

Beyond frequent directed patrols in the area and the community policing programs already in place in the North Betty Lane and Overlea Street neighborhood, the Clearwater Police Department has conducted a number of enormously successful undercover operations in that specific area in recent years, targeting every sort of criminal.

Targeting -- and imprisoning -- mid- to upper-level drug dealers, the Vice & Narcotics Unit can identify about 20 individuals who have been prosecuted federally under the auspices of the Weed and Seed program. The average prison sentence meted out in these cases is 17 years; these criminals were either living in this neighborhood or supplying drugs to that specific area.

Executing a number of court-authorized search warrants, detectives have seized over 11,000 grams of cocaine in the area, including 170.6 grams of crack, 162 grams of powder cocaine and several guns that were recovered from a house just off Betty Lane recently. In another case, the largest single crack seizure ever in Clearwater, detectives took from the streets of the Betty Lane community 404.6 grams of crack cocaine.

We're working with concerned residents who have expressed a willingness to participate in creating the first Neighborhood Watch group in the North Betty Lane area; District II patrol officers will continue their successful "Blue Team" street-level antidrug operations; and the Police Department will escalate its activities with both residents and city officials to help residents elevate their neighborhood in various ways.

This in addition to a number of ongoing undercover criminal investigations in the specific neighborhood, sensitive operations that -- although they are time-consuming -- result in lengthy sentences for those who poison the community.

I'm well aware of the parochial problems of the North Betty Lane and Overlea Street neighborhood, for Clearwater police officers have invested thousands of man-hours there in recent years.

It's rewarding to see residents stepping forward to join with their police and city officials to improve the safety and quality of life in their own neighborhood. And I want them to know that the Clearwater Police Department will stand shoulder-to-shoulder with them in eradicating the problems.
-- Sid Klein, Clearwater police chief

Work with majority on traffic

Re: Part of Pierce Boulevard to close, story, June 13.

The article acknowledges that eastbound traffic leaving Clearwater Beach will now funnel through Cleveland Street in downtown Clearwater, "which could create backups." Why not four-lane that section of Cleveland Street from Osceola Avenue to Myrtle Avenue? After all, both ends of Cleveland Street are four lanes. Eliminate the funnel.

Oops. The city spokeswoman said in the story that the increased traffic could help the downtown merchants. So what is the motivation for all this?

Let's four-lane Cleveland Street and accommodate the majority.
-- Walter F. Piff Jr., Clearwater

Don't use flags without respect

Re: Patriotism stirs passion for soccer, story, June 18.

The picture showing the American flag sagging onto the floor was distressing. Having attended many football games, I was prepared to overlook it, thinking it was a thoughtless act in the heat of the game.

In reading the article, I found that later it was draped over a Mexican fan who was lying on the floor.

Remembering the flag-draped bodies of servicemen who have died protecting our country and of the victims of the terrorist attacks, I was appalled that such a gesture should have been made in "fun."

This is not patriotism. The American flag (or the flag of any nation) should not be used so lightly. A small, handheld flag would have sufficed to show team support.

Please, let us all try to remember to show respect for our national emblem.
-- Nell Thomas, Dunedin

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