We’re Making It Too Easy For Local Car Thieves
Dear Editor,
I’m writing in response to the many police reports lately about broken car windows and stolen items from cars. You don’t have to be a genius to read the police blotters and realize that car thieves have it too easy- it’s a walk in the park for a thief to steal a purse, wallet, or iPod from a car when the doors are unlocked and the items are in plain view. True, a theft is still a crime, but that doesn’t make it impossible to commit. That’s why car manufacturers make glove boxes, center consoles, and trunks. If we want to put a stop to smashed windows and stolen items, we need to tackle this problem by either stowing our valuables in secure places, or taking them with us when we leave the car.
Mark Johanson, Morgan Hill
Perplexed and Disgusted by Our ‘Blameless’ Society
Dear Editor,
I am writing partially in response to Dan Roth’s comment on motorcycle cops in the Feb. 13 opinion page of the Morgan Hill Times. To be frank, I found Roth’s musings to sound more like a bitter traffic violator than a concerned citizen. I have a suggestion for Roth and other bitter traffic violators: Review traffic safety and follow traffic laws – it’s not the police department’s fault that YOU speed or fail to stop at a stop sign. I found Roth’s commentary, however, in sync with our society’s misconceptions of law enforcement.
I am a strong believer that authority should be constantly questioned. However, I think the public’s attitude toward police officers is absolutely ridiculous! People seem to have the impression that all or a vast majority of police officers are “dirty,” corrupt, or power hungry – no doubt a result from earlier times as well as Hollywood. Should all police officers strike to demonstrate their role in our civilization? Would you be more appreciative of their role then? True, there are some questionable cops out there – just like there are in all fields – but the majority believe in their work. Maybe some do have bad attitudes, but be realistic: What kind of attitude would you have if you dealt with the worst side of humanity day in and day out? What kind of attitude would you have if people spat at you and called you a “pig”?
There are endless stories playing out in the media where “witnesses” describe what they see as questionable acts made by police officers. I find it disgusting that when a police officer dies chasing an armed robber or tazes a drug dealer, people have the nerve to question the police officer’s motives and see him/her as the “bad guy” in the situation. Let’s face the facts: An upstanding citizen will not be involved in a car chase nor be at the receiving end of a tazer. Furthermore, the news has no problem questioning the integrity of a police officer who dies doing his job, knowing that his family is watching and mourning their loss and dealing with the idea that their loved one died at the hands of a criminal. But when a young gang-affiliated adult dies, the news presents the gangster as a great student and one who was in the wrong place at the wrong time, but the gang tattoos on the young adult’s face and the gang-colored shirt suggests otherwise. We have become overly sympathetic to criminals and overly harsh to law enforcement.
The reality is that we are a society that hates cops because they hold us accountable for our actions. We hate them because we can’t accept responsibility. Think about that the next time you are pulled over for speeding and begin bashing and blaming the police officer for your choice to exceed the speed limit.
Tiffany Beck, Morgan Hill
