A police officer visits a makeshift memorial on Monday near the site where two New York City police officers were killed. (John Minchillo, The Associated Press)
Re: “Two New York police officers killed in ambush,” Dec. 21 news story.
As one who grew up in Chicago with family members who were police officers, I would like to offer these views.
First, I find the murder of the two New York City police officers to be the horrible and inexcusable act of a man who was likely mentally unstable. Regardless of that fact, the words and actions of NYPD officers and their union — turning their back on the mayor and accusing him of “having blood on his hands” — shows all too clearly the “us against them” mentality of far too many cops. Over and over again, in Denver and every other metropolitan area, the attitude put forth by police union representatives is that no officer — ever, under any circumstances — is in the wrong in line-of-duty actions.
Such an indefensible position would be funny if it was not so dangerous and irrational.
Tim Flynn, Denver
This letter was published in the Dec. 24 edition.In the massive media coverage of the tragic assassination of two New York City policemen, two major aspects will receive little or no mention. First, for lack of tax funding, the nation continues to turn its back on the need for detection of, and treatment for, hundreds of thousands, even millions, of mentally ill people. This includes those prone to deadly violence such as the New York shooter. Second, the crazies have no problem getting guns.
Dick Johnston, Westminster
This letter was published in the Dec. 24 edition.
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