Tough on Cops Too

I would expect that by the time a story reaches the opinion pages, the subject would have received some intelligent analysis. I’m referring to the editorial on the spate of seemingly inexplicable shootings by peace officers. (“To Shoot or Not to Shoot,” May 27).

You say you don’t want to prejudge the shootings, but you go on to suggest that the peace officers should have another layer of management second-guessing their actions. Then you infer that the cops lack the training and, by inference, the qualifications to do their respective jobs. Well, it ain’t necessarily so.

There are two very important facts you should know about what it takes to become a policeman.

First, no police department wants the Rambo-type who brings disrespect to the department. Toward that end, those kinds of people are weeded out through an exhaustive series of oral and written examinations by police psychiatrists, and police recruiting sergeants. If they get past those tests, and a lie detector test, expert instructors at the academy sift out the potential troublemakers. So you see, unlike your examples, who may be totally unsuited for their jobs, the police officer is more carefully selected for his job than any graduate from any graduate school.

There are a few cowboys who slip through the cracks, but damned few.

If your heart isn’t drained for the unfortunate people killed, save a little compassion for the officers who pulled their triggers. They will re-live that catastrophic moment for the rest of their lives. It’s a burden many of us couldn’t bear.

It’s an irresponsible and uninformed press, catering to the sensational, that continues to drive a wedge between the police and the public that they serve so selflessly.

PATRICK C. FITZGERALD

Escondido