THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, May 14, 1996 TAG: 9605140009
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A14 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Short : 35 lines
I feel compelled to respond to staff writer Mike Mather's article of May 9 which inaccurately quoted me as calling Al Byrum, president of the Fraternal Order of Police, a ``lying junkyard dog.'' I never made that comment to Mr. Byrum or to anyone else. In an interview with WAVY-TV, Mr. Byrum acknowledged that I had not called him a lying junkyard dog.
Mr. Mather never interviewed me, so there is no way he could have verified that I made the remark. I would never say anything to personally insult any individual, especially a police officer. I have the greatest respect for the law and those who keep our city safe.
There were other inaccuracies in the article, including the statement that no new police positions were included in the proposed budget. In fact, we are adding 13 community-policing officers under a federal grant. During the City Council's budget reconciliation meeting on May 9, the vice mayor and I recommended that eight more police officers be added. We will vote on the final budget on May 14.
It has always been my belief that reporters have a responsibility to check their facts and make sure that what they write is accurate and balanced. I appreciate having this opportunity to correct the record.
MEYERA E. OBERNDORF
Mayor
Virginia Beach, May 10, 1996 by CNB