Opinion: Vines had to go to keep the city from regressing

As a white resident of St. Petersburg, I applaud Mayor Rick Baker's decision to fire police Chief Mack Vines. I also applaud the residents, both black and white, who have done so much work over the past five years to advance economic development and end the racial divide in this city.

The racial slur uttered by former Chief Vines was unacceptable to the community. However, the concern went beyond the utterance alone. The remark went hand in hand with excessive-force policies Vines was implementing in the black community, policies long overturned under former Chief Goliath Davis.

When almost every city in the country is battling with race relations, police brutality and crime, Chief Davis was perhaps the first police chief in this country to hear the voice of the community and make a public commitment to economic development in the black community. Subsequently, crime is down, and there is peace and unity in the city. Why would anyone want to go back?
-- Anita R. Weir, St. Petersburg

End the double standard

The real issue in the firing of police Chief Mack Vines is not his use of metaphor, but the perennial quandary of policing on the south side. As a 15-year resident of south St. Petersburg, I have witnessed thousands of examples of a double standard in community law enforcement. Whether it is speeding violations or prostitution, open containers or noise violations, the standards are patently different in this part of town.

Studies of neighborhood policing have repeatedly shown that it is these "little things" that go together to form a climate of lawlessness and encourage more serious crimes. But whenever the police try to implement the law consistent with other parts of the city, a well-rehearsed chorus arises with charges of racism.

City leaders, few of whom live in this area, once again turn the south side over to lawlessness, sending a message to future officers that, as an old Florida tourist slogan once stated, "the rules are different here."

Vines told his officers to enforce the laws of the land plainly and evenhandedly, and as a result he has been dismissed. When will we have the courage to end the double standard?
-- Bruce V. Foltz, St. Petersburg

The enemy within

This is the greatest country in the world. Just think how truly awesome it would be if we didn't spend so much time, effort and energy dealing with issues of race and were all on the same page.

But, that's not the way it is.

Our country was so united by the events of Sept. 11, but issues of race ultimately creep back, to bring us all back to reality. So sad, it only took three months. The hatred and venom resurfaces.

I personally think that there are much bigger issues to be dealt with than the poor choice of a word, but words too often reflect attitudes, and therein lies the problem. Let's put the shoe on the other foot. If, as chief, Goliath Davis had made an off-hand comment about, let's say, "Crackers," what would the outcome have been? I think we all know: the same outcome as we have now and both sides would have been flip-flopped.

The mayor, I'm sure, did a soul-searching gut check and made a decision. Like it or not, he made a decision. That's his job!

Remember, if so many people didn't spend so much time, effort and energy dealing with race, none of this would have happened. Let's all do a gut check and move on -- and with a more careful selection of words, since so many people seem to have to make race an issue. Let our great country not forget the enemy within.
-- L.A. McCloud, St. Petersburg

Fair administration of justice is missing

St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Baker vowed to ensure that the Police Department would fairly administer justice. Chief Mack Vines made a senseless mistake for which he immediately apologized. What was his punishment? Losing his job.

Baker handpicked Vines just weeks ago. If his decision to hire Vines was a mistake, where is Baker's fair administration of justice? By Baker's standards, he himself should be ousted from his own position.

Baker has now asked his new chief, Chuck Harmon, to sell his home and move to St. Petersburg. Be careful, Mr. Harmon, don't uproot your family for someone who may not wait very long to send you packing.

And can police officers feel secure doing their job knowing that it could be in jeopardy if they offend the mayor's downtown puppeteers? If the residents of St. Petersburg wanted a small group of extremists running this town, we would have elected their candidate when given the chance.
-- C. Scott, St. Petersburg

We need to heal past wounds

Good leadership and tough decisions often go hand in hand. St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Baker made a most difficult decision regarding the police chief's comment, and, like the mayor, I agree that Chief Mack Vines' comment was not intended to be racially offensive. Regretfully, it triggered a negative reaction within many of our African-American neighbors and probably undermined the future effectiveness of the chief within the minority community.

It is obvious that we still have community wounds that have not healed, and a Band-Aid approach by the mayor would not have helped. Any good mayor must put the city first over any one individual, as difficult as that may be at times. I empathize with Mack Vines and pray that our city will make even greater efforts to heal past wounds.
-- Peggy Sloan, St. Petersburg

We need a police force respectful of all

I applaud the action taken by Mayor Baker to fire Mack Vines and wish Chuck Harmon well in his new position as police chief.

I live in Riviera Bay and have been concerned about racist literature recently distributed in my neighborhood. I attended a forum on Dec. 4 featuring Mack Vines at which this topic came up. He didn't offer much hope that he took the issue of hate literature seriously, but he did ask the audience to trust him to work with the entire population of St. Petersburg. I believe most of us were willing to give Vines the benefit of the doubt when he said he would check into accusations of potential police brutality and police harassment.

It was very disappointing to learn that Vines made the offensive orangutan comment on the same day that he was telling a standing-room-only crowd that he was continuing former police Chief Goliath Davis' policy of being respectful to all citizens.

It appears that Vines' orangutan remark was in reference to a black suspect that was surrounded by four police officers and was injured while being dragged through the window of his vehicle by the officers. Vines seemed to be saying to his officers on Dec. 4 that this type of aggressive police tactic would be condoned under his regime, while telling the public the same night that this type of behavior would not be acceptable.

St. Petersburg must have a police force respectful of all people, and I certainly hope that the new police chief will abide by this philosophy.
-- Valinda Almeida, St. Petersburg

A demoralizing blow

I am absolutely disgusted with Mayor Rick Baker for firing police Chief Mack Vines. Our mayor and City Council members are totally intimidated by the usual array of African-American activists and criminal sympathizers.

This is a very demoralizing blow to the law-abiding citizens of our city and particularly our Police Department.
-- Larry Bachnik, St. Petersburg

A time to move on

Once again, we at the St. Petersburg Police Department find our organization at the center of another political controversy. For 10 years we have been in an almost constant state of turmoil. It seems to be a sport for the media and all of the special interest groups to continue picking at the scabs of our more recent history just to see if the wound will fester and become infected again. The community becomes caught up in all of the hullabaloo and people start choosing sides. Each side believes its perception of the way things are is the most valid. It is the nature of politics that there are two sides to every issue and no matter what is done, someone will always find fault with whatever the issue of the day is.

I am a 15-year veteran of the St. Petersburg Police Department and a 17-year resident of St. Petersburg. I am a patrol sergeant who has seen and experienced every change in the department since Sam Lynn was the chief of police. While the politics of the city have changed over the years and police chiefs have come and gone, one thing has remained constant, and that is the dedication to duty of the men and women, sworn and civilian, of the St. Petersburg Police Department. While the media and special interest groups are busy stirring the stew, the members of the department go about their jobs in the same professional manner that we always have. We are the ones who become forgotten in the storm of controversy because we are true professionals who show up every day, regardless of our own personal political ideals.

With the events of Sept. 11 still fresh in our minds, law enforcement, fire and emergency medical personnel go to work each day knowing we may be called upon to make to ultimate sacrifice for people we don't know, for people who may not even like or care about us. We do so because we have sworn to make the pieces of the world we touch a little better for those around us. We aren't in this for money or the fame. Most of us have no self-serving interest other than to take care of our families. We are human beings who are unable to change the past. All we can do is move forward. It makes no sense to worry and fret about what is over and done.

So, we have a new chief of police and a mayor who, whichever side you choose, appears to be trying to do what is right for everyone. As a member of the Police Department, and a resident of the St. Petersburg, I ask all of us to move on.
-- Ray F. Waldo Jr., St. Petersburg

Tough decision was best for the city

As one who is immensely proud of our city, I regret that the recent controversy regarding Chief Mack Vines' comment has rekindled past fires. No one should doubt that the mayor did not want anything more than for Vines to succeed, as he was the mayor's choice. Therefore, his decision to replace the chief had to be excruciating and most difficult.

The mayor made a decision he felt was best for our city as a whole. Strong mayors make tough decisions and are not likely to always be popular, but thankfully he has the courage to make the tough call.

I wish Mack Vines the best and hope we can regain a greater sense of unity within our police force, as well as our community as a whole.
-- Mark Cornish, St. Petersburg

Dubious office decor

Re: Chief: "Just give me a chance," Dec. 20.

After reading the article on new police Chief Chuck Harmon, I was impressed by his background and feel he is well qualified for the job. Seems like a nice enough guy, too. His love of the area shows in the way he adorned his office with golf and FSU memorabilia. I especially liked the little gorilla dressed in FSU regalia and the signed photo of Bobby Bowden.

Wait just a minute. A "what?" dressed in FSU colors! In the police chief's office! He's toast! You know that has to offend somebody.
-- Rich Host, Dunedin

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