CPD ‘immersion’ will boost respect
On Thursday, cadets from the Chattanooga Police Academy met at Chattanooga State to report on their participation in the newly established “Community Immersion Program” initiated by Chief Fred Fletcher. Each cadet spent 50 hours meeting and interviewing Chattanooga citizens on their home turf in diverse neighborhoods. This program helps establish a closer relationship between police cadets — soon to graduate to full police status — and Chattanooga citizens. Cadets showed videotapes of their meetings and interviews. They were unanimous in their closing statement: “I will be a better police officer because of this program.” Our nation is demanding that police and citizens know and respect each other. The Chattanooga Police Department is walking the walk.
Franklin McCallie
Brown’s actions led to shooting
The Chattanooga Times Free Press had it right in last Saturday’s paper. The ultimate responsibility for Michael Brown’s death in Ferguson, Mo., is his own. Did the officer overreact? The only one who might know is Darren Wilson, and he probably has questioned himself considering the quickness and violence of the incident. What I do believe is that if Brown — white, black, Asian or purple — had not been bullying, first a local storekeeper successfully, then a police officer unsuccessfully, he would be alive today. Take responsibility for your own purposeful actions. Therein lies the problem.
Sam Lewallen Jr., Sale Creek
Restraint praised; coverage knocked
I admire the readers of our black community for the restraint shown during the hysteria around the country over the Ferguson affair. I can’t say the same for the liberals at your paper. The day after the burning and looting in Ferguson, columnist David Cook wrote about the hanging of a black man over 100 years ago. I fail to see his point unless it was to further incite the black community. On Monday there was a cartoon on the liberal side of the editorial pages, which was an obvious attempt to further incite. None of us heard the testimony, or saw all the evidence. So, we don’t know all the facts. There is one undeniable fact, the victim’s blood and DNA were found inside the police vehicle. He had just been photographed during a strong-arm robbery. These are not the actions of an innocent person. What was the officer supposed to do, just drive away? If my house ever catches fire, I pray Cook or your liberal editor are not near. They would surely throw gasoline on it.
Robert L. Rayburn
Enact poll tax to get road funds
Gov. Bill Haslam has a big problem ahead of him with transportation. I was thinking there is a simple solution — we need a poll tax. The way things are moving a gas tax will not fix anything as more and more Tennesseans are buying electric cars. You should have to pay for the roads that need maintenance. Driving isn’t free. It is a privilege. Scott Cloutier, Ooltewah
Use of body cameras can effect change
The massive public reaction to the tragic deaths of three blacks at the hands of white police officers has led to a national call for use of body cameras to record and prevent any future mistreatment of suspects. There is ample precedent. Animal protection activists have used body cameras to document egregious atrocities and safety violations by workers in the meat, dairy, and egg industries. The resulting videos have led to a number of corrective actions, as well as felony convictions, meat recalls and even a $500 million civil settlement. How ironic then that agribusiness interests in seven states (Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Montana, North Dakota, and Utah) have now enacted “ag-gag” laws imposing severe penalties for using body cameras in their agricultural facilities. Let’s hope that other vested interests do not impose similar restrictions on the use of body cameras by law enforcement officers.
Tristan Bell