Today's Letters: Don't judge based on a video alone

Allegations of abuse at the Hillsborough jail   

It's apparent that the public does not realize all that goes on in a county facility. Unfortunately, what they see on the news is what they believe takes place on a daily basis.

I can attest that it's not the case. I'm a detention deputy in another county facility, and when you work in the booking area you are subjected to some of the most unpleasant people in the world. And when they get arrested, a lot of them take it out on us.

When you're in jail you must obey the rules set forth by that facility and not come in there thinking you're not going to listen or do anything that someone tells you to do. That's your first mistake. Do what you're told and there will be no issues.

Unfortunately, a lot of people can't follow the rules. That's why they're in jail in the first place. Also, I'm very surprised that those videos were released for the public to scrutinize before investigations were conducted. You can't base a decision of guilt or innocence on just a few minutes of a video clip. If that was the case, how many of us would be found guilty of something before the whole story was told?

I am not trying to justify what the deputies did in either case, but know the whole story before you decide if they're guilty. Remember, it could be you one day, and imagine your mug shot on the front page of your local newspaper.

Antionette Harris, St. Petersburg

In jail abuse case, consider handicap factor

Make no mistake. Brian Sterner was not dumped from his wheelchair at the Hillsborough jail because he is a quadriplegic.

Sterner was dumped because he was perceived to be mentally handicapped. The perception was that he probably would not be able to relate what happened to him, and if he tried, well, who would believe the rantings and ravings of someone who was obviously mentally disturbed?

Sterner was dumped because the person who dumped him, and the people who stood by and watched, assumed they could get by with it. If Sterner had identified himself as, say, an attorney, I doubt seriously that he would have suffered the shame, humiliation and physical abuse that he did.

My sincere gratitude goes to the person(s) who had the courage to release the video.

S. Acosta, advocate for the developmentally disabled, Tampa

Embattled deputy resigns Feb. 19, story

No remorse

It is obvious that Deputy Charlette Marshall-Jones' reason for resigning from her job with the Hillsborough Sheriff's Office was to protect her pension. Nowhere in her rambling letter of resignation did she once apologize to the man she so callously dumped onto the floor. Nowhere does she show any remorse for her actions, other than her remorse at losing her position and the respect that went with it. What kind of "integrity" do people have when they abuse someone in their custody, someone they are supposed to serve and protect?

If the races had been the other way around, you can bet that the likes of Jessie Jackson, Al Sharpton and Darryl Rouson would've been protesting on the front steps of the Sheriff's Office to have that person fired and charged with a crime, and to demand that he be stripped of his pension, faster than they could say "Don Imus"! So where are these pillars of civil rights for the oppressed now?

If the deputy is ever convicted of a felony in court, they should strip her of her pension, no matter how many years of good service she gave. We have seen many people go down in flames after extended careers for one mistake. Sauce for the goose, I say!

Lance K. Piscitelli, Clearwater

Jail accused of culture of abuse Feb. 19, story

A face too familiar

Marcella Pourmoghani claims that she fears any contact with law enforcement. Given her lengthy arrest record, that may work out in her favor.

They say familiarity breeds contempt, and in her case I'm betting the local jail won't miss her frequent visits.

Glenda Pittman, St. Petersburg

Support our officers

Upon reading this article, again I believe there is not enough support for our officers of the law. They are underpaid and overworked. I wouldn't do this dirty job for any amount of money.

Having said that, there is not a one of us, no matter how caring or law-abiding we are, who could not fall into this trap. Every day law officers see these people in disgusting situations. Our society as a whole is a mess. These men and women work with these lowlifes in our society. It's correct that they should not be beaten, if this is truly the case. Any of us in this dirty job would be likely to falter, no matter how good or well intended we are.

We need to get to the root of the problem. More time off, support, and higher wages. They are damned if they do and damned if they don't. We all need to step up to the plate and pay these people for this unforgiving job.

Elaine Vincent, Tarpon Springs

A day to remember

The St. Petersburg Times blew it once again on the front page of the Feb. 18 edition. There is absolutely no mention of Presidents Day. However, there are four ads in the front section referring to "Presidents Day" sales.

Every calendar that I have seen prominently labels Monday, Feb. 18, as Presidents Day. The question then comes to mind: Why doesn't the Times tie in with this historic date? Then, too, why do advertisers mention this day in their ads?

If for no other reason, a short story about Presidents Day could be educational. The bonus would also be that everyone would be reminded once again of our past presidents.

Jack Keller Sr., Belleair Bluffs

Neither party can resist pork's allureFeb. 14, story

Investments in America

I am always disappointed by the characterization of earmarks - by the media, but most especially Republicans - as necessarily equating to "pork." The fact is that most earmark projects are investments in American communities and American jobs. In turn, those investments contribute to the local economy and spur local spending, contributing to higher tax receipts which help fund local schools, police and other vital services.

It is true that "bridges to nowhere" and similarly ill-advised projects are a shameful waste of taxpayers' money. To eliminate such waste, Congress should consider instituting per-capita guidelines that would cap appropriations based on the population size in each district or state. This would give each member of Congress a "budget" for his or her district, forcing choices between potentially wasteful and more worthy projects.

Yet even with the current, imperfect system, the vast majority of "pet" projects are investments that provide stimulus to local economies and improve communities for middle-class Americans in a way that "trickle-down" tax cuts never could. We should embrace these investments in America and Americans, not vilify them.

Tal J. Zlotnitsky, Trinity

A space shoot-'em-up Feb. 16, editorial

Off in space

Your editorial reveals your disturbing lack of some basics of science. The satellite is deorbiting due to drag from the thin air at its altitude. Blowing it into smaller pieces will bring its pieces down faster, not cause any space debris. And the missiles used to shoot it down will not attain orbital velocity so they won't be "rattling around."

Adding your editorial to the ignorance of the basics of biological science displayed by half of Florida residents and by some members of the Board of Education and one may wonder what our science teachers have been doing for the last 30 years.

James J. Klapper, Oldsmar

Dewey days revisited

Hearing so much about "change" in this political season brings to mind a hilarious cartoon that appeared in our college paper the day after Franklin D. Roosevelt defeated Thomas Dewey in 1944.

Dewey kept hammering on the theme "It's time for a change" over and over prior to Election Day. An artist from the campus Democratic club created a sketch that depicted Dewey as an infant - lollipop in hand and wearing diapers - crying out, "It's time for a change!"

Under the drawing was the proclamation, "Tommy is not only Dewey - he's all wet!"

Fred Murray, Largo

[Last modified February 20, 2008, 21:47:23]