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In handcuffing incident, focus on the child, not the officer

Re: Handcuffs on 13-year-old excessive, parents say, Nov. 30.

The question isn't whether St. Petersburg police Officer Roberto Rolon overreacted when someone threw a golf ball from a school bus into moving traffic very nearly causing what could have been a fatal crash - and possibly Officer Rolon's death.

The question is why the 13-year-old girl mouthed off and kept mouthing off to a police officer investigating a very serious incident. Why was it necessary for her to declare that she didn't do it? How did that help the officer find out who did? Why didn't she tell him who did it, for that matter? Is that respect for authority?

The incident was no laughing matter even if the kids thought it was. While that's often the case with that "act before thinking age group," how did any kid on the bus know that someone wasn't hurt?

Officer Rolon was on his way home. He could have let the incident pass. Thank goodness he didn't. Throwing objects out of moving vehicles is very dangerous, indeed.

As for the parents of Ashley Marie Mitchell: Get your kid under control and she won't have to worry about being handcuffed.

Too much police involvement

Re: Girl, 13, unlikely to face charges, Dec. 1.

I was outraged by the video showing this police officer manhandling a child. I am concerned with the growing frequency of police encounters with students at school, and now on a school bus. My 16-year-old daughter was handcuffed and arrested at school. Like Ashley, she was encouraged to enter a diversion program, which involved community service and probation. We declined, because we felt she had commited no crime. We had our day in court. The case was dropped, confirming our belief that our daughter had done nothing wrong.

Our schools are delegating discipline to the police. Parents should be wary of accepting pretrial diversion programs to avoid going to trial if they are in question about their child's guilt.

Officer helps educate students

Re: Handcuffs on 13-year-old excessive, parents say.

I believe police Officer Roberto Rolon deserves a "thank you" rather than criticism for taking the time to educate the "children" on the school bus. Certainly the school bus driver is busy driving and has no time to enforce discipline among a group of unruly students enjoying the privilege of a taxpayer-provided ride home.

Officer should lose his job

St. Petersburg police Officer Roberto Rolon's actions with the 13-year-old girl on the school bus should result in his being fired and and perhaps charged with false arrest.

This is indicative of the reason that most youngsters see the police negatively.

A reflection on parenting

Re: Handcuffs on 13-year-old excessive, parents say.

Hearing these parents complain about the way their children are being "handled" on a school bus reflects on their children and the way they are parented. Perhaps they should relive their childhood and remember the days when they rode the bus and how rowdy it got. Remember the times we live in now, and how they are more violent than when we were children.

That officer could have been killed or injured, up to and including, paralyzed. What would they feel about the situation then?

And why would their daughter start raising her voice that it wasn't her if she didn't have something to do with the offense?

Dowd's trashy efforts

Re: The autumn of the patriarchy, Dec. 1.

Every now and then curiosity gets the better of me and I take a quick look at Maureen Dowd's column. This column has me stumped, though. It certainly isn't an opinion or an editorial, but I am curious as to what you would call it. Is it "Journalistic Fictional Hate Bush/Cheney Trash" or just plain "Trash"?

Read it again for me and let me know which part isn't plain trash.

On the other side of the coin, thanks much for the Garrison Keillor columns!

A brilliant satire

Re: The autumn of the patriarchy.

Satire is defined as: "trenchant wit used to expose and discredit vice or folly." Maureen Dowd's Dec. 1 column is one of the most brilliant samples of that genre I have ever seen. If anybody thinks that W is running the White House, Dowd's epic dispels that myth in the most convincing manner.

Political business as usual

Re: Bribery ends House career, Nov. 29.

Randy "Duke" Cunningham, former representative from California, admitted this week to taking bribes from defense contractors in exchange for government business.

Is anyone really surprised? I submit Cunningham's action is "business as usual" among politicians - the others have not been caught. I wonder how many people who eagerly claw and scratch to rub shoulders and have their picture taken with politicians still think it is an honor? Where will those pictures go taken with Duke Cunningham?

Rep. Nancy Pelosi, House minority leader, in her shrill screams about a "culture of corruption" is ripe to have her words stuffed down her throat. The Democrats have their share of criminals also.

In my opinion, the politician who serves at the trust of the people and disgraces his office, is about as despicable as it gets. Cunningham is facing 10 years confinement and should suffer the maximum penalty allowed by law.

Aren't more involved?

Re: Bribery ends House career, Nov. 29.

I'm at a loss to understand why ex-Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham is guilty of receiving bribes while those companies offering the bribes are not specifically mentioned. Are they not all criminals?

A wonderful role model

Re: A gift of home and hope, Nov. 30.

What a joy to see these pictures and read the article. Thank you, Warrick Dunn. You truly are the example that children should have as a role model. Our papers spend entirely too much print and space on the "bad boys" of football. What a delight to read this and what a wonderful tribute to your mother. Yes, Warrick, you were blessed with a wonderful, caring mother and it certainly shows here. May God bless you.

[Last modified December 2, 2005, 01:13:14]