Shame on police

We were flabbergasted when we read the story of what happened to Beverly Saruwatari (“Arrest still churns,” June 27).

Though in recent years our visits were in the grocery store aisle, we spent several years getting to know Bev very well, as our boys played sports together. She was a quiet, gentle, smart and classy lady – a supportive and caring mom we admired very much. Never, in a million years, would we believe she could be mistaken for a threatening, hammer-wielding criminal as obviously the police did.

How many seconds did she have of armed police yelling commands to react before they stormed up to arrest this tiny lady, put her in handcuffs and haul her to jail? We can’t comprehend the trauma it must have put her through, having spent her life setting an example for the rest of us by being an outstanding citizen, teacher and mother.

Shame on you, Spokane Police Department. This story should outrage everyone, and we should demand changes and accountability in City Hall so this behavior does not keep repeating.

Our deepest sympathies go out to Travis and Bev’s family for the obvious horrible repercussions this poor judgment caused.

Dick and Mary Lee Kunze

Spokane