ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Tuesday, April 30, 1996 TAG: 9604300051
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-4 EDITION: METRO
TYPE: LETTERS
WHEN DAVID Bowers ran for mayor four years ago, he marketed himself as the leader of a crusade to ``take back City Hall'' for all average working men and women whose interests and opinions were being ignored by decision-makers in city government.
But almost as soon as he was elected, Bowers began cozying up to the same power elite that has long called the shots for city bureaucrats. He has reversed his position on issue after issue to curry favor with the ``big boys.'' Apparently obsessed with gaining their approval, he has tried to become their lap dog. The result is that no one knows what Bowers really believes about anything - other than that the world revolves around him - and no one can trust him to follow through in the future on whatever he's promising at this moment.
Painters Local Union No. 891 has endorsed Pat Green for mayor. We did so not because we agree with everything Green says, but because he impresses us as being genuinely open-minded, willing to listen and to learn, and sincere in his desire to work for the best interests of the city as a whole, not just for a favored few.
We could be wrong, of course. We were wrong four years ago, it now appears. Intending no disrespect to Green, however, it's hard to see how we could do worse with him as mayor than we're doing now.
CLINE W. TONEY
Business representative
Painters Local Union No. 891
ROANOKE
The driver made a judgment error
REGARDING the tragedy that happened at Williamson and Plantation roads on April 21:
With more than 16 years of emergency-medical service experience and nine years as a former deputy sheriff, it always amazes me that when the media covers anything that could be remotely construed as negative, they jump all over it.
Only one person made an error in judgment that day, and that was the alleged suspect-driver of the vehicle. He could have made the conscious decision to stop. However, he decided that his selfish well-being should override that of a man, a woman and her infant daughter. Those in the criminal population should never have comfort in knowing that if they go slightly over the speed limit, they'll get to break the law yet another day. If this man hadn't been involved in a pursuit and had hurt someone, the resounding question would have been: Why didn't the police arrest him before now?
Maybe the media should spend equal time covering the good things our public servants do - such as the time when, just before a hockey game, a Roanoke city police officer and a private citizen performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation on a parking attendant. Did the media cover that? No. By the way, the attendant is alive and well and living at home now.
KEVIN PETERS
ROANOKE
Haskins cares about Salem's interests
I URGE our voters to elect Harry T. Haskins Jr. for Salem City Council. I know him personally. He's loyal, honest, a good listener, a hard worker, and a caring Christian.
Having served our city for more than 20 years as chief of police, his record speaks for itself. Through experience, he has knowledge of our city, its people and their needs. His unblemished public record and fine character reflects in his kind response to the personal and corporate needs of Salem's people. I believe he'll personally, efficiently and professionally address needs beyond his call of duty because he has a servant's heart, and puts the concerns of people and our city before his own.
Should he be elected, and possibly chosen mayor, his prior public experience, example of lifestyle and mature influence will bring to City Council a refreshing, responsive influence, and total loyalty for the betterment and continuing progress of our fine city.
BRUCE RHODES
SALEM
Between citizens and psychopaths
YOU LEAVE your comfortable office in the evening and walk to your car. Suddenly, a man appears, pushes you into your own car, seizes the keys, strikes you and drives off with you.
Terrified, you don't know what to do. He accelerates through downtown and a police officer begins a pursuit because of his driving - a minor offense. Because of the traffic and your kidnapper's speed, he soon abandons the pursuit because of a ``policy.'' You end up in a wooded area, raped or perhaps killed. And all because of a policy designed to protect others in traffic cases.
Ridiculous, you say? I don't think so.
When an offender refuses to stop or, having stopped, suddenly roars off, no police officer can fathom his reasons. Is he an escaped felon? Is he holding a victim hostage? Or is he just a wiseacre? Most police officers know that the most dangerous thing one can do is to stop and approach a vehicle for a traffic offense. A few years ago, we lost two state troopers that way.
The fact is that police officers do not have the gift of second sight. Although the initial stop was for a minor infraction, no one could fathom why the driver fled. Duty required the officer's action, and nothing less.
Based on more than 40 years of representing and prosecuting criminals, I can tell you that the police are all that stands between the citizens and a large class of psychopaths who recognize no interest but their own. It ill behooves any of us to seek to curtail the police force's lawful powers because the offender, not the pursuer, recklessly sped into an intersection and took three lives. Tragic as the outcome was, your reporting and editorial (April 23, ``A chase - to what end?'') implied blame in the wrong direction.
CABELL F. COBBS
ROANOKE
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