Readers respond to last week’s Feedback Friday topic, which was:
Police Reform: Needed or Not?
Here’s what you said:
We do not need police reform. What we need is parenting to start taking place. People need to have respect for authority. There are bad apples in every job. Police and others that put their life on the line everyday they put a uniform shouldn't be treated as they are doing wrong every decision they make.
Craig Pyle, Millington
Absolutely need to require classes for all police to be taught the necessary skills of communication and when to use a gun and when to use a taser.
Madonna Vitarello, Frederick
Please do not do this. We will have police leaving; police need protection. I have actually thought about getting a gun and I hate guns, but what are the people supposed to do.
Police have my respect and they need protection. It’s not right to take the protection and rights from law enforcement. Everyone I talk to says this is bad...horrible. We will have chaos in the streets and everywhere else.
Police have the rights to protection! Appeal this idiotic ruling.
Susan Broussard, West River
Why are all of these juveniles running the streets at night? Where are the parents taking responsibility for their kids? The police are doing a great job under very difficult circumstances and the politicians and prosecutors are making it worse by reducing bail and not prosecuting common crimes that embolden criminals. Since when is it allowed to loot stores, assault citizens, show up at people's homes and businesses and intimidate them? We need to take back our streets and society. Stop allowing loitering, public urination, panhandling, and assault and intimidation. Peaceful protest has become arson, theft, and assault. Lock the criminals up!
Anthony Parkinson, Easton
Once we alienate all the wonderful law enforcement officers and professionals who work, defend, and live with their families amongst us in Anne Arundel County....who are we going to call?
Crickets and then Ghost Busters.
Come on man, give me a break.
Gerald Hall, Annapolis
I do not agree that policing needs reform. I completely disagree with these reform bills.
In nearly every case, the police officer was engaged with a non-compliant citizen that had a multitude of legal issues (outstanding warrants, convicted of previous violent acts, illegal weapons, drugs, etc.) that resulted in the situation escalating to an unfortunate conclusion.
Changes that MUST occur:
1) Police officers MUST get out of their buildings and out of their cars and start walking the neighborhoods they patrol so they get to know the people they were hired to serve and protect. They need to knock on doors and introduce themselves. This will establish a more personal relationship that will turn into trust and not fear.
2) Politicians and the media MUST stop vilifying the police. They are not the enemy.
3) There will be some police officers that are not a good fit for this line of work and will need to be held accountable. Annual certifications will not achieve the desired outcome, but instead, feedback from the community will. However, any citizen that makes a false claim about a police office MUST also be held accountable. Again, this is about forming a trust relationship between the police and the community they serve.
Scott Delcore, Davidsonville
What we need is for people to respect and obey the police. 99.9% of problems are because of failure to obey what the police tell them to do. If they fail to comply then the police should be allowed to do whatever is necessary and if their gun goes off accidentally or they use a gun instead of a taser then they should not be held liable. Fortunately, the police have body cams so we get a clearer understanding of what happens. We are on a path to complete lawlessness in this country and am glad that I can still get a gun because we will soon have no choice but to defend ourselves because the police will not be willing or able to defend us anymore.
Julia Simpson-Jones, Edgewater
While some support the idea of "police reform," the majority of educated citizens fear the folly of an extreme interpretation of this proposed policy. "Defund the police" then becomes a rabble-rousing rallying cry that would result in a lawless society where "anything goes." Most members of our police force deserve our sympathy, not our censure. Beware what you wish for.
Mary Lou Baker, Annapolis
