"Justifiable Force"?!?

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"Justifiable Force"?!?

June 25, 1997
To The Editor: Press Democrat

Thank you for your editorial "Justifiable Force" with the sub heading "It's not anti-cop to consider merits of citizen review board."
I would, however, like to comment on your observation that some of the people who have been speaking out about the recent spate of killings are "knee jerk police critics who don't wait for facts." Is it possible that due to economics or ethnicity, your editorial staff is leading a more sheltered life than these critics?
Are we finally talking about what hardly ever gets discussed--the huge perceptual gap due to race and class differences?? Are there major cultural and lifestyle differences in peoples life experiences which lead us to our individual conclusions and perceptions? If so, isn't it about time that we begin to acknowledge them if we ever hope to close this perceptual gap?
On June 21 I witnessed something that I have never seen in nearly 25 years of living in Sonoma County. I saw Native Americans along with Japanese/Chinese/African/Mexican and European-descended individuals and groups come together in Santa Rosa to show their concern over the recent unnecessary killings of local citizens by the police. Many were leaders in communities that came from Los Angeles and the Bay area. Those knees may have been jerking but it wasn't from not caring about the facts.
It was the fact that a screwdriver and a broomstick against well armed and trained police is no contest. It was the fact that the police continue to "police" themselves. It was the fact that law enforcement is not doing enough in training its people to close that perceptual gap and weed out the Rambos. Thank goodness for the critics in any society that spot the wrongs and try to correct them. Where would we be without them?

Mary Moore • Camp Meeker

E-mail me at: justice3@sonic.net