Police and the sniper attacks [Good sense from the Washington Times Editors]

The Washington Times ^ | October 23, 2002 | EDITORIAL

[xsysmgr]

We don't have any armchair advice for the police. We don't care whether they hold press conferences once an hour or once a day. We don't think we know better than them how to do their job. We are disinclined to criticize any part of their job performance. We only have two words for the police, sheriffs, FBI, ATF, and other law-enforcement men and women in our communities: Thank you. Thank you for doing the best you can. Thank you for trying to find one clever killer out of a population of 4 million. Thank you for working overtime and missing your families and home. Thank you for dashing to the scene of the most recent outrage at all hours of the day and night. Thank you for standing in the middle of the Beltway stopping traffic

[Dems_R_Losers]

BUMP for law enforcement!!!

[ArcLight]

Hear, hear! Anyplace we can send these guys money or cookies or something?

[SwatTeam]

AMEN!! AMEN!!

After all these threads full of the bs from armchair sheriffs who couldn't catch a cold but love to criticize the people who are risking their very lives, this is a welcome message.

[alnick]

Amen.

[Velveeta]

Classy editorial.

[Pinetop]

Good for the Washington Times for acknowledging a tough, thankless job that is being undermined by a bunch of talking heads on CNN and armchair quarterbacks. I don't think many of us can imagine the kind of stress these officers are under.

Yeah, order pizzas and cokes delivered to the command stations from time to time or, more appropriately, doughnuts and coffee. Here in SF, where the National Guard frequently patrol the GG Bridge, I have had pizzas delivered on cold wet nights. Last Christmas people would pull up in front of the HumVees with tins of Christmas cookies. People frequently do a better job when they know they are appreciated.

[Fred Mertz]

I like this one.

[McGavin999]

BRAVO!!! It's about time someone in the media said it.

[vbmoneyspender]

BTTT

[revolted]

If I were in charge here's what I would do.
Ask for men and women to become the Militia again.
Give them binoculars, cameras, and radios, weapons if background checks are OK and are US citizens. Post them on every tall building for varying shifts to cover 24/7. A team leader in would be in charge of groups of 20. Radio contact with the leader is a must. The leader would then report to another LEO. Of course, it would be great if this could be done quietly, so the murderer could be caught in the act. I do not really see any other way to get him.

[ventana]

This is a great editorial! I think all the piling on about Chief Moose, (I admit in the beginning, I had my doubts) is ridiculous. These people are working hard! But, I wonder, if a bunch of food, and donations started hitting the station houses, wouldn't that tie up resources at a time when they are strained for resources? I can imagine, they might be a little leery of food deliveries right now, I would be. V's wife.

[ventana]

That is sensible! V's wife.

[TexKat]

Kudos for the Washington Times.

[Atlas Sneezed]

"...And thank you for doing all this at a pay substantially below that of most of us whom you are risking your lives to protect."

I was OK until this point. These folks are unionized against the government and the people they supposedly serve, are armed to the teeth and covered with taxpayer-funded armor and equipment, collect overtime for the work, and have yet to take a single action that significantly endangers their own lives. (Cowering outside of Columbine until the threats have killed themselves comes to mind.)

I think this letter is an insult to our armed servicemen who are risking far greater for a tiny fraction of the compensation, not to mention taxpayers who risk far more living in dangerous neighborhoods where police efforts have conspicuously failed to provide any safety.

Sorry, but the cops get no credit simply because a crisis has dropped into their laps.

Heroism is something other than wearing a taxpayer-funded uniform and going on strike for high pay and juicy pensions.

[isasis]

What a great editorial! It does my heart good. My husband is a retired police officer so I know what their families are going through at this time. Thank you cards - Signs in yards - ribbons around trees - ads in the local newspapers are some of the things local people can do to show their appreciation. Donuts wouldn't hurt.

[Teacher317]

Thank you.

[Imal]

Damn! Best editorial I've seen in a long time. And, unlike the numbing, marathon coverage this terrorism has been getting, the article is short and sweet.

My hat is off to the Washington Times. I agree with this editorial 110%. Well done.

[First_Salute]

Bump.