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Sheriff's Office needs shake up

By LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Published January 18, 2007

Re: County to pay for bust mistake, story Jan. 11.

How many lawsuits will the citizens of Pinellas County have to pay for this year due to the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office's "sloppy police work"?

Sheriff Jim Coats says, "it's an unfortunate incident." I don't believe that he would be calling it "unfortunate" if it were him standing in line to rent a car when officers ran in pointing guns at his head, slamming him to the ground and bashing his face into the floor, causing abrasions and a cut that required stitches.

I also don't believe he would be calling it "unfortunate" if the $100,000 was coming out of his pocket.

What is unfortunate is that the offending officers are only receiving 12 days of vacation time.

Most people that I know who made a $100,000 "mistake" at work would be fired on the spot.

Pinellas County is lucky these guys did not seek damages for civil rights violations, which could have cost Pinellas County taxpayers millions of dollars.

County Commissioner Ken Welch said, "I'm not sure that I want to see those two particular officers working narcotics in south county." Speaking for myself, I would not want to see them working north county, either. Or any county, for that matter.

These officers do not deserve to work in any area of law enforcement ever again. Sheriff Coats, it's time you clean up your department and start weeding your garden.

John Thurmond, Ozona

Re: How loud is too loud? Venues want to know, story Jan. 6.

In Dunedin, the music must go on

Dunedin, can you hear me now?

Dunedin can't figure out what loud noise is. Hard to believe, isn't it? All these years of partying, parades and celebrations and we have no defined rules to tell us if it's just too loud.

The issue was raised when an irritated citizen complained to the Sheriff's Office that a downtown nightspot's music was too loud and he wanted it stopped.

Dunedin's noise ordinance has no gauge to measure the intensity of sound.

How can a law be enforced when the only guideline is if it annoys someone's ears within 100 feet of the sound?

Dunedin's downtown bars and restaurants need to have music. It enhances the experience of dining and, of course, partying. Music is supposed to soothe the soul.

I know downtown Dunedin will continue to offer music and continue to enjoy the sound of cash registers ringing. Now that's music to their ears.

Bill Coleman, Dunedin

Re: The doctor is always in now, story Jan. 14.

Comment on Down's incorrect

I really enjoyed the article and I am a patient of Dr. Stephen Mazer. I was very happy to see Dr. Mazer take this position helping people with Down's syndrome. I have a daughter with Down's syndrome and this is a subject very near and dear to my heart.

I was very concerned with a statement printed in the paper, though, that can potentially cause needless concern to new parents of children with Down's syndrome who have not researched fully what life may hold in store for them.

The story stated that Tom Buckley, executive director of UPARC, said that "all" people with Down's syndrome get Alzheimer's disease in their 40s. This is not a true statement and I do not believe Mr. Buckley said that.

The truth is that people with Down's syndrome often have a rapidly progressive form of Alzheimer's disease:

- By age 40, 25 percent of people with Down's syndrome will have Alzheimer's.

- By age 60, 66 percent of people with Down's syndrome will have Alzheimer's disease.

- Those 40 years of age and above are the fastest growing group of people with developmental disability.

Also, women with Down's syndrome have a higher risk than that of men with Down's syndrome.

Please make sure all the information you give is correct, because it can cause undue stress on a situation that is already stressful enough.

Thanks, Dr. Mazer, for loving our special children and community!

Mike Pryor, Palm Harbor

[Last modified January 18, 2007, 06:54:53]