Letters: Respect the law in Missouri
Firefighters work to extinguish a raging fire on Monday, Nov. 24, 2014, in a building that housed a Little Caesar's restaurant in Ferguson, Mo. The fire was one of six that erupted after news that a St. Louis County grand jury had not brought criminal charges against Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson in the killing on Aug. 9 of Michael Brown, 18. Credit: EPA / Tannen Maury
In response to columnist Leonard Pitts Jr. ["Let's talk about 'black on black' crime," Opinion, Nov. 30], as a current Nassau County police officer for almost 21 years, the last thing this "snow white" police officer wants to do is end my day having to shoot anyone, let alone a black person.
If Pitts, along with other short-sighted people who continually refer to Michael Brown as an unarmed African-American man, doesn't recall, Brown just moments before his death stole from a store. On videotape no less, he shoved the person he had just stolen from in a bullying fashion. He also acted aggressively toward Officer Darren Wilson, which to Pitts' apparent ignorance or chagrin, was backed up by at least six black witnesses.
Trust me, not one officer alive wants to have to do what Wilson had to do that day. What would really help relations between law enforcement and the public would be if people would comply with lawful orders. This would prevent tragedies like the ones we've seen too often lately. We all want to go home to our families at the end of the day.
Robert Tedeschi, Levittown
There's a much more effective way to redress wrongs than shouting, blocking traffic and burning down your neighborhood ["Ferguson: National Guard tripled after fires and looting," News, Nov. 26].
Only 42 percent of the eligible voters in Ferguson participated in the last election. That's the method: voting!
Fred Zuckerberg, East Hills
Newsday is presenting only one side of the story: that Michael Brown was a poor innocent and Officer Darren Wilson was the bad guy ["Ferguson shooting: No charges," News, Nov. 25]. I would like to see Brown's apparent criminal activity addressed.
It's a shame to promote the race issue instead of the fact that a police officer was attacked, as the facts seem to indicate.
Ray Dawson, Huntington
President Barack Obama went on TV to call for lawful assembly after the grand jury's decision in Ferguson, Missouri.
However, these were many of the same people who burned and desecrated businesses and properties immediately after the shooting of Michael Brown. Did Obama expect totally different behavior this time around?
In the same breath, he asked law enforcement officials to respond with caution and restraint and to do everything possible to avoid confrontation. The results speak for themselves. This is what happens when police officers are hindered from taking action.
Marty Orenstein, New Hyde Park
