Opinion: We shouldn't let lawlessness reign on our streets

Mary Jo Melone has stooped to a new low with her column attacking the Tampa police (And you expected to survive your visit?, Sept. 24). What could motivate her to write such a misleading piece? Is the Times becoming another tabloid that bends and distorts stories only for the sake of sensationalism? I think so.

The Tampa police did not kill Emily Robins, Alfie Kearns and Richard Haddad. Emily Robins and Alfie Kearns did. They stole a car. They were speeding at 90 miles per hour. They were driving recklessly and without control. And they were resisting arrest. They caused the accident that took their lives and Mr. Haddad's. (Do I remember reading they had also caused another accident a couple hours earlier?) Melone's column "forgot" to mention these details.

Of course it's a tragedy when these young people's lives are senselessly taken. I can understand the parents lashing out in their grief and wanting to blame someone else. But that doesn't change the facts. What a dreamer I am -- still hoping that newspapers are unbiased in reporting.

What kind of society would Mary Jo Melone have? One where car thieves are not pursued and apprehended? One where young people can drive at 90 mph on our streets and are not pursued and apprehended? One where criminals can resist arrest and not be pursued and apprehended? What kind of society would you have?

I applaud the efforts of our police who often risk their lives trying to keep us safe on the streets.

Consider the alternative.
-- Dick Zimmerman, Tarpon Springs

Failing to chase poses danger, too

Leave it to Mary Jo Melone to find a way of making a swipe at the Tampa police and the tax situation in Florida all in the same column. It's easy for Melone to bash the police with her 20/20 hindsight, but she ignores a very important question: What would happen if the police backed away from a chase and somebody was killed as a result? I imagine a great many questions would be raised -- especially by the same media that takes every opportunity possible to criticize the men and women who wear the police uniform.

Very often, doing nothing can lead to a worse outcome than taking action. Police officers are aware of this fact, and use it to temper their judgment in dangerous situations. That they commit to these kinds of risks on a daily basis is proof of their dedication and courage. Melone should consider this before comparing the police to cowboys and Tampa to the wild, wild West.

As for the taxes the tourists pay: I pay those same sales taxes, gas taxes and utility taxes. Please don't make me feel guilty because we don't have a state income tax as well.
-- Marc D. Giller, Clearwater

Protect the innocent drivers

Any time a law enforcement officer engages in a high-speed chase with a suspect, there is a very high probability that someone in the general public is going to get hurt. It would be far safer for officers to call their dispatchers and describe the vehicle and its direction of travel so other law enforcement officers could converge on the vehicle from the front or set up a road block to stop the vehicle. This would be safer and would be less likely to trigger a high-speed chase, and it would protect the innocent driver who is obeying the law.
-- Eugene B. Keesler, St. Petersburg

For a more sensible pursuit policy

I am writing in opposition to the city of Tampa's pursuit policy, which permits officers to engage in high-speed and dangerous pursuits in nonviolent felony cases, such as automobile thefts. This policy is contrary to many law enforcement agencies' pursuit regulations, which permit them only to apprehend violent felons. Agencies with pursuit policies that do not permit high-speed police chases in nonviolent felony cases include the Florida Highway Patrol, Metro Dade, Broward County, Miami, Cocoa, Palm Beach and Orlando, among many others.

In writing letters to the editor, some of your readers seem to justify the city's pursuit policy out of concern for apprehending persons who commit automobile thefts. Unfortunately, when the police try to apprehend the person committing the auto theft, the suspect travels at excessive speeds to avoid apprehension and fails to comply with traffic controls at intersections during the pursuit, causing the stolen car to strike the innocent third party.

All pursuits have one thing in common, and that is that no one, including law enforcement, knows where the pursuit will end. What we do know is that between 45 percent and 55 percent of all pursuits in the city of Tampa resulted in crashes, depending upon the particular year reviewed. Those who believe that the policy is necessary to rid our community of criminals stealing cars need to follow the progress of these cases. Many auto thefts are committed by minors under the age of 18 who will not spend one day in jail but rather will be handled in the juvenile court system. Adult offenders who do not have a prior record will, in all probability, be placed on probation. Others may be killed themselves during the pursuit, and while auto theft is a crime and should be punished, I know of no country in the world where the death sentence is imposed on this property-related crime.

I would only suggest that the next time citizens ponder this issue, they ask themselves this question: In the name of attempting to apprehend a car thief, would I be willing to sacrifice my wife, husband, child or parent for the benefit of this policy? If your answer is "no," you should not be in favor of a policy that has the effect or sacrificing another individual's family member.

While it is proper to initiate a pursuit in auto-theft cases, once it is obvious that the vehicle is not going to stop, the use of helicopters or unmarked police cars ahead of the pursuit is the preferable procedure, as we know that these vehicles will come to a stop once they are lulled into believing that the police threat has disappeared.
-- Richard A. Hirsch, Tampa

Family is grateful for support

On behalf of our beloved son and brother, we (his family) thank every one of you who has prayed and supported us. God gave us our precious son for 18 blessed years and now, in God's mercy, he has reclaimed him. Richard will be flying back with us to his homeland in Jordan, where he will finally be laid to rest. May God bless his soul. We again thank all of you for giving us strength during this tragic time.
-- The family of Richard Haddad

Making educated voters

Each presidential candidate speaks of how much he is going to improve the education of our younger people. That's scary, for a better educated population wouldn't vote for either of the current candidates.
-- Bob Coffey, Clearwater

The Times is doing its job

I've viewed several recent letters that label the Times biased to George W. Bush or Al Gore. The problem is that neither candidate is getting more stories for or against. It's only personal views that make readers see the Times as being more pro-Gore or pro-Bush.

In a political contest as close as the 2000 campaign, where Bush and Gore are referred to as a being in a "horse race" instead of a political contest, it's easy to see the focus of all media (television, radio, newspapers and magazines) shift from a stance that looks as if they support one candidate to one where they seem to support the other.

Blaming the Times for bias for one candidate or another week in and week out only proves the Times is doing its proper job -- calling this race right down the middle.
-- John Fontana, Palm Harbor

Writers should reveal party affiliation

Election Day is just five weeks away. In an effort to promote unbiased reporting and provide fair coverage of all candidates while eliminating the potential for bias, I propose that all St. Petersburg Times political journalists identify their party affiliation in each byline. The Times has an opportunity (as well as an obligation) to give the reader honest, accurate, "no-spin" information, instilling confidence that the story has not been tainted by the writers' personal political leanings.

This is the only way we can make an intelligent decision. This election must be decided on facts and not bias. Full disclosure of political affiliation would go a long way in assisting the reader in making that determination. If other readers agree, please write this newspaper and encourage full disclosure.
-- Robert Levy, Oldsmar

Congress' priority: raises

Did you read in the Sept. 26 Times, in a story about Washington budget negotiations, a very small reference on page 3A, under the heading Treasury, that stated: "Bill also opens way for $3,800 pay raise next year for members of Congress."

How about that? It would appear Congress cares nothing for you and me. Their sole objective is to obtain more money and more "perks" for themselves. Whether or not the American people are covered by HMOs or how much we pay for our prescriptions does not seem to bother them at all.

It is time for all of us to stand up for our rights -- we are paying for their raise while Congress does nothing for us, the middle and lower class. Can we do something about it? You bet we can! Write your senators and representative and tell them how you feel about the raise they voted for themselves. Wouldn't you like to have the same medical coverage that they get? I would. Remember too, get out and vote. Make your voice heard.
-- E. A. Borgeson, Spring Hill

Not a causal relationship

Something obvious is missing from John Leo's column Divorce can haunt grown children, Sept. 27.

If we divide parents into two groups, those who got divorced and those who didn't, there will be many differences between the two groups. For instance, the guy who gets drunk twice a week and beats his wife and kids is perhaps just a tad more likely to end up in the divorced group. So is the woman who cheats on her husband. If the children of parents who got divorced have more problems as adults, one cannot simply assume divorce caused the problems.

If John Leo were a real journalist, not just a shill for some conservative social agenda, he would point this out in print.
-- Garth Gairrett, Tampa

Family flaws can be passed down

Re: Divorce can haunt grown children, by John Leo, Sept. 27.

Judith Wallerstein's new book, The Unexpected Legacy of Divorce, overlooks the fact that those same traits that led to divorce in a badly conflicted marriage, i.e., erratic and self-defeating behavior and other emotional problems, have been passed along to the children. It is typical of these traits to surface after the age of 20, parents divorced or not.
-- Elizabeth M. Ellis, St. Petersburg

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