Blame suspect for detective's death, not cops

Regarding your editorial "Why is this officer dead?" [Dec. 15], let's make one thing perfectly clear. The answer to that question is: suspect Lamont Pride. Yes, there may be a string of other reasons people will point to, but the one clear answer is the accused shooter.

The editorial ends with thought that Det. Peter J. Figoski may have been murdered because a North Carolina police department "didn't want to have to spend a few bucks to come and get him," adding "that's a travesty."

Here's the real travesty. That you would place blame on fellow officers for causing the death of a brother cop. Did you do any research into the budget process in Greensboro, N.C.? Most police departments I've heard about don't establish their own budget or have unlimited resources. No matter how much the officers in that department would like to go and pick up a fugitive, if the budget doesn't allow for extraditions, then they can't.

Shame on you for trying to shift the blame to the police instead of laying it where it belongs.

Robert A. Lewis, Ronkonkoma

Editor's note: The writer is a retired Nassau County police officer.

You ask why this officer is dead. The answer is simple. The judicial system is more concerned about protecting the rights of the criminals in this country.

Suspect Lamont Pride was in trouble in two states, and after two recent arrests in New York was released both times. If judges did not coddle repeat criminals, this would not have happened. He should have been incarcerated in North Carolina.

It is bad enough the police never know what will happen in their dangerous job from day to day, but judges don't make their job any easier. What are these judges afraid of?

Say a prayer for all police officers who face danger every day to protect us. And add a prayer for the judges that they wake up, see their fatal errors and take their jobs seriously.

Frances Harwood, Seaford