State budget deficit should not affect safety guidelines
Editor, The Times:
Our police are being killed because of Washington state’s failure to keep violent criminals behind bars [“Attack on deputies stuns weary region,” page one, Dec. 23].
Violent criminals need to be locked up and the key thrown away. The state of Florida has a 10-20-life law for gun crimes.
Let’s get that law here, also. Washington’s budget deficit should not be what guides our safety.
— Reno Raines, Auburn
Sheriff’s attitude out of line?
I found the attitude as projected by Pierce County Sheriff Paul Pastor’s statement prominently displayed on the front page of The Seattle Times to be astonishing — “This should underline and make clear that people who wear badges risk themselves for perfect strangers.”
What does the sheriff think the role of the police forces is?
Sheriff Pastor gets paid for putting his tail on the line. And, yes, having dedicated more than 32 years of uniform service to our country, I well understand sacrifice for the good of the cause.
Take a good look in the mirror Pastor and ask yourself: “Do I deserve to be wearing this uniform in service of the good people of Pierce County?”
— Charles Bickel, Poulsbo