THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, April 5, 1996 TAG: 9604030113
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 06 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Long : 195 lines
As a resident of the city of Chesapeake, I would like to respond to the hubbub between City Council and the Police Department.
I don't see why the Council is on a witch hunt for the head of Police Chief Ian M. Shipley Jr. for the actions of grown men who happen to be the sons of prominent people.
Parents are responsible for teaching their children the difference between right and wrong, but when a child reaches 18 and chooses to do wrong, they are accountable for their own actions.
With the problems the Council has had in the past, I don't think they are in a position to throw stones.
The Police Department, in my opinion, is doing an exemplary job of making Chesapeake the safest city in Hampton Roads.
Chief Shipley and all the officers of Chesapeake should hold their heads high. Only City Council and the media are beating this dead dog.
Maureen D. Gay
Mallard Court Too beautiful
As I was driving down a heavily congested Battlefield Boulevard, I thought, ``Is this the best the roads in Chesapeake are ever going to get?''
After years in office, what have incumbents like Bill Ward done to improve our roads? How many housing developments has he tried to slow down to ease the growth of Chesapeake? How many times has he pledged to find ways to ask developers to invest more in Chesapeake to improve the roads, schools and water?
I am very glad this year that new people, such as John Cosgrove, Robert Nance and Bill Pierce, can work to bring slower growth to Chesapeake.
Chesapeake is too beautiful to become another Virginia Beach. Let's bring new ideas to Chesapeake City Council by electing Robert Nance, John Cosgrove and Bill Pierce.
Alex Smith
San Roman Drive Unfair Journalism
The writer of the recent article in The Virginian-Pilot, regarding an investigation conducted by the Chesapeake Police Department, in my opinion, is guilty of using sensationalism and unfair journalism.
The story line of the article was accompanied by a picture of the chief of police, and although the article and some of the follow-up reporting in subsequent days reflects perfect conduct on the part of the chief, having his picture next to the lead headline certainly lends itself to allowing the casual observer to make untrue conclusions.
We enjoy living in one of the top five safest cities in the country for our size, year after year, and that is directly attributable to the leadership that Chief Ian M. Shipley Jr. has exhibited.
I believe an injustice was committed in the way this story was presented.
Michael E. Okuley
Greenbrier Circle Performing as trained
Although I am not a firefighter in Chesapeake, I am a professional firefighter in a neighboring city. After reading the letters to the editor March 31, I felt the need to respond to a letter from C.K. Miller entitled ``Why enter building?''
Firefighters Frank Young and John Hudgins were on the first unit to arrive at the scene. The primary task of the first-due engine is to make an investigation. This includes an interior check to find the source of the fire and to extinguish it if possible. They also are responsible for searching for anyone still inside. From what I heard from people on the scene, the building was still occupied when they arrived. Seeing that the building was filled with flammable and toxic substances, they were to make sure the fire did not spread to those substances.
The fire started mainly in the roof area and was concealed by a false ceiling. I'm sure the entire building was not ``up in flames'' when they arrived. Frank and John had no idea what they were up against until either they ``pulled the ceiling'' or it fell in on them.
These firefighters were performing as they had been trained over and over to do. There is no way to ``size-up'' a situation if you cannot visualize it. The main reason most people fail or quit the fire academy is because they are afraid of the unstable environment or they become claustrophobic. In my opinion, Frank and John were two of the bravest people around.
Every firefighter knows when the brass hits, it's time to go to work. Every day when some firefighter kisses his family goodbye he is aware that it may be for the last time. My brothers and sisters in the firefighting profession are prepared to lay down their lives to save a life or protect the property of someone they've never met. With the exception of law enforcement and armed services, how many other professions can make the same claim?
To our brothers, Frank and John, thanks for a job well done. You've answered the final alarm, and are now off-duty with the Lord. My deepest sympathy goes out to their families, friends and brothers in the fire service.
Matthew D. Albright
Jackson Avenue Baseless claims
On two occasions since 1990, I have had the privilege of working with the Chesapeake Police Department while serving as an assistant commonwealth's attorney. In the nearly five years I served, I prosecuted approximately 1,000 cases, ranging from traffic misdemeanors to murder and all manner of cases in between. It is fair to say that Chesapeake police officers were key participants in 98 percent of all these cases.
Your Clipper editorialist in his March 17 offering, tossed out a rather careless and baseless claim that the badges of our law enforcement professionals are today tarnished by the recent events surrounding the prosecution of a handful of young men who hale from prominent families. I suppose that the occupational hazards of editorialists include enlarged ego syndrome (E.E.S.), a malady that leads the sufferer to experience an exalted sense of self-importance together with the belief that there is no subject upon which he is not eminently qualified to issue a decree. This most recent statement betrays the telltale symptoms of E.E.S.
During the thousands of hours I have spent working with Chesapeake police - in investigations, case review, trial preparation, in the courtroom, and in community-related activities - I don't remember seeing your editorialist. Was he there? Has he listened in on the countless discussions regarding whether it was fair or just to charge an individual? Whether to give credence to a defendant/citizen's explanation in defense of his suspicious actions? I don't remember seeing him there. I don't think I saw him when I rode with officers on patrol and observed their care and consideration for the human beings they serve. And I don't think I saw him shoulder to shoulder as from time to time they have placed their lives in harm's way.
More directly, he has a lot of nerve impugning the reputation and character of the dedicated, courageous and loyal officers I have known during my terms of service, especially from the soft chair where he sits.
Did a few officers fail to fully investigate a crime? I do not know, and I would wager he and his employers have a hunch or suspicion at best.
And where is his sense of objectivity and balance? Is this not the same agency which has labored to provide Chesapeake citizens with one of the lowest crime rates for a city our size in the nation? The same organization which has implemented a community-based policing program that is at the cutting edge of national crime-control efforts? Are these not the same officials who pursued the painful, but necessary internal corruption cases of the early '90s that resulted in the purging of dishonest personnel and practices?
According to The Pilot's redundant coverage - where each new headline produced one or two new facts together with the needless repetition of the same basic story - police officers were disciplined resulting in marks on their permanent records. Have I missed something?
Does The Pilot discipline its writers and editors for their errors in judgment or fact?
Your paper owes the Chesapeake police an apology for such a slanderous statement, which undermines the morale of every officer who already faces numerous other societal obstacles as he or she seeks to provide safety and order in our increasingly violent world.
Paul R. Hedges
Centerville Turnpike South WCTV is an asset
I feel that we are very lucky in Chesapeake to have WCTV, Channel 23, to bring us the candidates for City Council and the School Board in a professional manner.
The ``Sounding Board'' program is an asset to the people of Chesapeake. Sid Oman is fair in presenting these candidates. He is direct without a brash ``Cross-fire'' approach. I feel he is doing a great job in moderating these programs as a public service. He does not receive any money for doing these programs, and they take a great deal of time from his busy schedule. He is a real pro, and I am glad that he is doing such a good job for the people of Chesapeake.
Sarah Hines
Western Branch Boulevard Rude conduct
Now that the South Norfolk youth basketball season is over, I would like to express my appreciation to all the coaches and others who volunteered their time to make this important activity available for our children.
I must also, however, call attention to the unsportsmanlike behavior on the part of some of the parents involved. Interestingly, most of the mean-spirited comments I heard came from fans of the dominant teams in the league. No matter how far ahead their team was on the scoreboard, they believed every call by the referees that went against their team was a bad call. Needless to say, their children's attitudes on the court reflected the lack of respect.
Perhaps even worse, though, were the nasty comments directed at the players on the other team. Parents and siblings shouting ``Miss it!'' when a player was at the free-throw line and ``About time!'' when the opposing team would make a basket made the whole experience uncomfortable and unenjoyable for me as a parent, and I can only imagine how the children must feel.
This is not the belly-aching of someone whose children were on a losing team. My boys were fortunate to be on the teams that did very well this year. Sometimes, the unsportsmanlike behavior came from ``our side'' of the bleachers. I found it just as offensive as when it came from the ``other side.''
If the referees are truly doing a poor job, there are ways to deal with the problem in a responsible manner. Parents need to think about the message they send their children when they put on these displays of blatant disrespect.
Most importantly, we must keep in mind the reason we involve our children in organized sports - to have fun. If children are feeling pressure from adults who are behaving as if they are at a game of the Final Four instead of at a game of 9- and 10-year-olds, it makes it difficult for anyone to have a good time.
Come on, parents, grow up!
Tamara Hoffman Shipp
Nottaway Drive by CNB