Snyder experienced, ready

Election season has started, and as a 3rd Legislative District resident, I am very interested in the state representative, position 1 race. Andy Billig is now running for the vacated Senate seat, leaving huge shoes to fill, but I’m happy to see a qualified, experienced and dedicated candidate step up.

I’ve known Jon Snyder for many years and worked on his successful 2009 Spokane City Council campaign. I had complete confidence in his core values and ability to represent my interests, and I knew he would work hard. He did not disappoint. Now, with Jon’s three years’ legislative experience added to those values, abilities and hard work, he is the perfect candidate to take Spokane’s unique 3rd District perspective to Olympia.

Jon knows Spokane and the 3rd District. His repurposed schoolhouse home is in Peaceful Valley, he’s a small local business owner, and his two kids attend Spokane Public Schools. He works in the trenches of Spokane city government every day and understands his responsibility to his community as only an elected official can.

The 3rd District needs an experienced legislator in Olympia. Jon Snyder has proven he has what it takes.

Tim McHenry

Spokane

Police solved property crime

Kudos to our Police Department!

Our home was burglarized a few weeks back. We called Crime Check really expecting no action judging from recent articles in the newspaper. To the contrary, a police officer arrived at our home an hour later, gathered information, called us back two days later, and asked if another officer could dust for prints.

We were impressed but thought that was it, as neither officer was optimistic there would be results. We were pleasantly surprised to hear from the Sheriff’s Office three weeks later that Susan’s laptop had been recovered and was just needed for a couple days more for evidence, and then we would get it back.

Thanks to the police for a job well done and all they do to make our community safer. As my dad used to say, “They run to what most of us run away from.”

Susan and Ira Amstadter

Spokane

Blue line getting thinner

In regards to the May 29 letter from Ben Burgad, and his comments about the Spokane Police Department and the parade:

First of all, he should be aware that the police motorcycles escort the colors at the start of the parade, and there should not be clapping and cheering but silence in respect of the flag. Also their function is to clear the route and security, not a parade entry.

The police are the front-line defense for our safety and security and cannot be compared with the Fire Department, whose functions are totally different.

His idea of the police is to arm and train them with all available weapons but never to use them. I wonder if he thinks the same of our military. If so, God help us.

The next time he or others who think as he does need police assistance, please call a fireman or the news media.

The thin blue line is getting thinner, because who in their right mind would want to be a police officer today? Join the Fire Department, where everyone loves you.

Thank God I retired when there was still some respect for the police.

Joe A. Machala

Kettle Falls, Wash.

Why have a guild?

Why have a Police Guild? I do appreciate having good officers out there doing their job. There are a few, however, that break the law, and the guild is there to back them up.

Whether an officer blames his occupation for being alcoholic, or drives under the influence, commits a hit-and-run (only to drive to the nearby Yoke’s and get a ride home instead of going to jail), or one who assumes someone has stolen his truck, which somehow justified firing his gun in a residential neighborhood in the middle of the night, or one who stalks a woman, or who beats an innocent man to death, etc.

When officers are above the law and taxpayers are expected to pay for their defense, it’s time for a change.

Molly Hart

Chattaroy

No more Stink Bombs

Is Mr. Crooks really advocating for this Spokesman-Review subscriber to go elsewhere to become “better informed”? If these topics he suggests in his “quiz” (Smart Bombs, May 27) are truly newsworthy, then why aren’t they being covered by the paper?

Searches of the S-R website for “U.N. Agenda 21,” “computer graphics expert Arpaio,” “Obama Photoshopped,” “Obama Dreams of My Father” and “Obama oil rich island” returned no useful results to help me become “better informed.”

A Google search of the same phrases returned a litany of conspiracy themed, survivalist pop-up laden, tea-party-supporting, birther tripe.

I applaud the S-R for not following these “news” stories. As for Mr. Crooks, thank you for making me “better informed.” I now know to skip your Stink Bombs column altogether.

Mark Turner

Spokane

(Editor’s note: The quiz was satirical.)