Must review training

The Saturday, Nov. 12, “Police need to be policed” Roundtable article by former prosecutor Donald Brockett is on target. Yes, the “us versus them” attitude does exist – a little-understood cultural syndrome. However, this concept of “pre-emptive” strikes such as occurred in the Otto Zehm case is a dangerous trend that must be checked.

Police power is an awesome responsibility, and is a power that is from time-to-time subject to abuse. It requires vigilant monitoring.

U.S. Supreme Court decisions of the 1960s resulted in the exclusionary rule and the Miranda warning, which, with the Civil Rights Act, are tools to curb police abuses.

The police administration must review what is being taught at the Police Academy in terms of patrol procedures and criminal procedure. Patrol procedures call for containment, assessment and resolution; criminal procedure requires an understanding of the law as to when the officer can make a stop and the level of force to be used. The power is not absolute.

Yes, officer safety is an important issue and, yes, police work can be dangerous.

A top-down federal review can be positive if fair and doesn’t further destroy morale.

Bob Allen

Ret. captain, ex-Academy director

Chattaroy