I would like to respond to the Name Withheld letter titled "Turn in Your Badge." While I have never been a police officer, I have compassion for anyone who wants to be, or who may have chosen that profession. In my opinion they have the odds stacked against them today. I recall that growing up as a child in a small coal-mining town in southwest Pennsylvania, we had a killing across the street at a wild, drunken party. One officer responded with no back-up, went in and brought the man out. At that time in that area you respected anyone wearing a badge and readily responded to any of his commands. If you did not do so, you were then responsible for what happened next. In today's world it is common to blame the officer even before we know whether the officer has acted outside the rules. I served on the Sheriff's Posse in Ariz. and was required to take their "Shoot Don't Shoot" course. After viewing that, I wondered why anyone would ever apply for the job. I think we should have a copy (although I assume by now it has been revised), in the library for everyone to check out and view. Let's start supporting our officers and stop finding fault. They work under a lot of pressure, and are forced to make split-second decisions, which receive Monday morning quarterbacking at leisure by those who want the criminal's rights protected. Spend some time worrying about the public's and the officer's rights and protection for a while. As the old Indian saying goes, "Do not judge a man until you have walked in his moccasins for a while." That may not be quite the exact quote, but you get the point.
Hoby Herron, Bend
