Media: Coverage of Police Killings in Torrance

Fear. I’m not afraid of going to the mall, to work, conducting my day-to-day activities--whether it be during the day or the evening. I am not afraid.

However, I am afraid of what I am reading in the media: the questions and innuendoes by the press and public regarding the circumstances surrounding the death of David Fukuto, who murdered two police officers at the Holiday Inn on Valentine’s Day.

What would you do if an armed person entered your home or place of business? Would you not, at the first opportunity, try to disarm and subdue the assailant? I would and so would you. You and I would use any means necessary to protect ourself and others.

How can our police continue to protect us from increasing violence in our society if we cast suspicion on every move? The press and the public yell “civil-rights violation,” but David Fukuto voluntarily surrendered his civil rights the moment he opened that hotel meeting room door. What about the police officers’ right of peaceful assembly?

Instead of casting suspicion on those who lay down their lives daily to protect us, we need to look at ourselves. How many officers have we lost in the past year? Nine. Don’t kid yourselves. It’s a war out there. Any one of us could be the next victim. The troops need our support!

DIANA CAUBLE

Torrance