Police Chase and TV Coverage

Re “Freeway Chase on Live TV Ends in Driver’s Killing,” Nov. 27: This person was chased by police and eventually killed, essentially, because he had expired tags on his car. Is this really within the police mission “to serve and protect”? Car chases are so dangerous to innocent citizens that they should be invoked only as a last resort when a real and immediate danger is present and, even then, all other options have been abandoned. Can’t we make the enforcement of tags the responsibility of parking enforcement?

The news stories are all about whether the media should be reporting these chases. Police should not be wasting our resources on tag enforcement. Giving chase is a powerful and lethal tool. The Supreme Court has said that no citizen can sue the state for death or damages as a result of getting tangled up in a police chase. Tag enforcement is not worth dying for.

JOAN JAECKEL

Encino

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As a 30-year-old man, I was no more shocked by the conclusion of the pursuit than I was when watching Daffy Duck being decapitated by Yosemite Sam when I was 5. Why some people would rather bury their heads in the sand, cover their children’s eyes and find ways to censor the truth is beyond me. Children need to learn at a very young age what authority means. You are not protecting your children when you hide reality and the consequences of not obeying the law.

I am still dealing with legal problems stemming from decisions I made as a youth because of my ignorance of and unwillingness to understand the law. Stop telling your kids there is a tooth fairy and sit down and watch the evening news with them. I realize you are only a kid once, as it were, but after adolescence, you are an adult and will be held accountable for your actions for the rest of your life.

CORY MUNOZ

Malibu

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It is ironic that The Times will carry an article about the wisdom of local TV news’ live broadcasts of graphic violence.

Turning to “Stories That Shaped the Century,” I find the most graphic photo ever taken of a violent act. Here, in the photo “Death Strikes in Saigon,” nothing is left to the imagination or the moment of death that is captured. It is such a startling juxtaposition that it should have been referred to in the article about the car chase.

BRUCE JOHNSON

Dana Point