DATE: Sunday, October 5, 1997               TAG: 9710030024

SECTION: COMMENTARY              PAGE: J4   EDITION: FINAL 

TYPE: Letters

                                            LENGTH:  181 lines

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR - THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT

VIRGINIA BEACH

Don't be so quick to accuse the police

With all the mud being slung around concerning the unfortunate death of Bruce Quagliato, it would be easy to get the impression that the Virginia Beach police lack the personnel and talents needed to serve and protect our community. I believe this is far from the truth. Virginia Beach has one of the lowest crime rates in this area and the perception of being among the safest.

If there was wrongdoing, then the injustice must be addressed and those guilty punished. Yet we must not arbitrarily make our public servants appear guilty just because it makes good news and good headlines. Let an outside investigator review the case, and let's direct the emotional energy toward fairness and justice.

Michael Callahan

Virginia Beach, Sept. 28, 1997

Thank you, police, for serving the city

I'm appalled at the recent disciplinary action taken against the Virginia Beach policemen who shot Mr. Quagliato. Once again, the police are being punished and attacked for a split-second decision they had to make to protect themselves and the citizens of this city.

What kind of message does this send to criminals? Pretty soon, police are going to be so tied up in legalities they are only going to be able to stand around, wait for crimes to happen and then attempt to solve them afterward.

If a person poses a potential threat to a citizen or a policeman, my hope is that the police use whatever force is necessary to stop him/her. What if Mr. Quagliato did have a weapon? What if he wound up murdering someone in the chase? Then the same 18 officers would be under disciplinary action for not taking action. Please stop the harassment of our fine women and men in uniform.

If Mr. Quagliato had stopped and given himself up to police immediately, he would still be alive today and his family would not be suffering. To those policemen who are under scrutiny, thank you for protecting my family and serving my city.

Douglas A. Karr

Virginia Beach, Sept. 27, 1997

Parents, shouldn't blame police, Navy

Regarding your Sept. 28 article about Bruce Quagliato, ``Parents look for justice after police killed son'':

I can understand the parents' anguish over losing their son, but not their blaming the Navy and the Virginia Beach police. Had Bruce not rammed the Little Creek police car, hospitalizing the officer, had he not placed the general public at risk by leading the Virginia Beach police on a chase that included more ramming attempts, he would not have found himself under the guns of the police. Also, had he complied with the officers' instructions, he would not have been shot and killed.

Michael Saffran

Chesapeake, Sept. 29, 1997

Why is city waging war against police?

As a 10-year resident, property owner and business operator in Virginia Beach, I am at a loss to explain the current war being waged against our police force by the mayor's office over the Quagliato shooting. I don't particularly like the idea of someone being shot; however, I don't want anyone getting the idea that the police in Virginia Beach will stand by and not act decisively when someone is breaking the law.

When Mr. Quagliato aimed his car at Virginia Beach police officers, he may just as well have drawn a 9mm, an AK-47 or an Uzi. What could have happened if this individual had turned into Pembroke Mall and begun aiming his Camaro at ordinary citizens as they went about their shopping?

If the police need more training, then the city should budget the funds to provide what may be lacking. Voters aren't going to sit idly by and watch the police force be stripped of all morale and purpose.

John P. Kuchta Jr.

Virginia Beach, Sept. 28, 1997

Police need moral support, more training

Over the past several years, city officials and police administrators in Norfolk, Chesapeake and Virginia Beach have publicly made statements that are damaging to police officers involved in shooting situations. These statements have been made before the investigations have been completed and all the facts determined.

Police need the support of their superiors until it has been determined that they were or were not in the wrong. I retired in January after 39 years as a Norfolk police officer and was in charge of firearms training. Officers today face more life-and-death situations than 20 years ago. If officials continue to send the message that they will not back up their officers, then the officers will do less, fearing false accusations.

As it is, the court system does not support the police. Officers face younger and more dangerous criminals with little or no regard for human life. Criminals are armed with weapons that are superior and offer more firepower than the officers are carrying. Another major factor is training or the lack of training. In many departments, training funds are the first to be cut.

If you want police officers to ``serve and protect,'' officials need to serve and protect the morale of the police and provide the funds and time for proper training.

Donald C. Scott

Virginia Beach, Sept. 26, 1997

BANNED BOOKS

A splendid plan: read ``Huck Finn''

During the 16th annual Banned Books Week, Sept. 20-27, book-page columnist Bill Ruehlmann reminded us that ``the next best thing to writing a banned book is reading one.''

Huck Finn is assigned reading for my students, and I begin with this advice - When you are offended by Huck's use of the word ``nigger,'' read on with this question in mind: Who are the real bad guys in this book - black or white?

And don't skip Chapter 31, for it is the heart, conscience and soul of this classic. Here, Huck struggles with a white conscience that would sell Jim back into slavery. After a mighty struggle, Huck embraces Jim as a friend and vows to free him.

In Chapters 33-40, Tom Sawyer comes on the scene with a plan to help Huck free Jim. The plan is so complicated, Huck fears it will take ``eighty years to work.'' When Jim is finally freed, the friends, Jim and Huck, are together again on the raft and off to a common destination. Huck says, ``Now, Old Jim, you're a free man again, and I bet you won't ever be a slave no more.'' Jim says, ``En a mighty good plan it wuz, too Huck. It `uz planned beautiful, en it `uz done beautiful, en dey ain't nobody kin git up a plan dat's mo' mixed up en splendid den what dat one wuz.''

Not lost on good readers of Huck Finn, first published in 1884, is that 80 years brings us to 1964, when the omnibus civil rights bill cleared Congress. And it is not lost on the conscience of America that Jim is not free and Tom is still working his plan.

Read a banned book.

Bill Smith

Norfolk, Sept. 25, 1997

EDUCATION

Poor Dick and Jane, something's missing

See Jane. She scores lower than the national average on the SAT. Watch out, Jane! There's a literacy test. See Jane fail again.

See Dick. Dick sells $1.75 hot dogs and $1.25 drinks, tax included. Watch out, Dick! A man wants a hot dog and a drink. See Dick use a calculator.

See parents read the Sept. 22 Another View. Written by a local school superintendent, it is filled with goals, notions and attitudes that are popular among educators.

Watch out, parents! You're not wanted. ``The full development of individuals'' is done through ``institutionalized, regulated, formal education.'' The view of the world you give Jane is narrow. The content you put in Dick's mind isn't right. You don't teach them ``where we've come from so they'll care about where we're going.''

Count the words. About 600 of them explain the purpose of public education. Watch out, words! Three of you are missing: reading, writing, arithmetic. Where did they go?

Poor Dick. Poor Jane. Poor future.

David Bose

Norfolk, Sept. 23, 1997

AMPHITHEATER

Sound of music comes from tour groups

I've been involved in the entertainment business for over 30 years as a performer and technician.

In his review of the Sheryl Crow concert, John-Henry Doucette was critical of the Virginia Beach Amphitheater's sound system.

For the past few decades, major touring artists have contracted with professional sound companies to provide sound systems for concert tours. That is the case for Sheryl Crow and every other major artist who has appeared at the amphitheater. In fact, the amphitheater does not even own a complete concert sound system because it doesn't need one.

Don't blame the amphitheater for a performance you don't like.

Jim Raybourn

Virginia Beach, Sept. 26, 1997

``Standers'' should be forced to sit

I recently visited the GTE Virginia Beach Amphitheater and was very disappointed. Because of an isolated group of people who insisted on standing directly in front of my party, we were unable to view the stage. Several requests for them to sit down only resulted in an angry confrontation. When I complained to an amphitheater staff member, she stated that there was nothing she could do, that attendees had purchased their ``space'' and were allowed to do anything, including stand.

I feel that when someone purchases a seat in a theater, they should be obligated to sit in it out of courtesy for those behind them. Certainly, I would not be allowed to stand throughout a performance at the Harrison Opera House. If attendees refuse to sit, then they should be ejected from the event. This can only be good policy, as I witnessed several other angry confrontations between the ``standers'' and the ``sitters'' involving yelling, finger-pointing, throwing beer cups, etc.

Alan W. Rose

Carrsville, Sept. 21, 1997

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