Parks o Police Shooting

Re “Tread Carefully, Chief Parks,” editorial, May 28: LAPD Chief Bernard Parks made no snap judgments at the time of the [Margaret LaVerne Mitchell shooting] incident and allowed a preliminary investigation to occur before making pronouncements. He has made a qualified decision that the officers acted appropriately based upon the available evidence. Parks recognizes that the media and special interests frequently crucify officers and he appropriately states that he will not allow these officers to be sacrificed for political or special interests. Nor will he allow allegations of racism to go unchallenged. He also had the courage to point out that police should not be held responsible for a situation that may have had its genesis in a deficient family or state mental-care situation.

Parks is certainly not creating an “us versus them” situation. He has proven to his department that he is a tough leader. Now he demonstrates to everyone else that he is a tough leader. Los Angeles should expect nothing less.

SGT. DANIEL WITMAN

LAPD

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Re “Officers Acted Properly in Shooting, Parks Says,” May 28: What is the difference between a cop killer and a killer cop? One is hunted down like the criminal he is and prosecuted to the full extent of the law, while the other is told to use “better judgment” next time.

KANDIS KENNEDY

Torrance

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A homeless woman wielding a screwdriver, placing an officer’s life in danger, is shot and killed. Her son may now file a civil rights lawsuit and lays blame with the LAPD not just for shooting his mother but for also not heeding his pleas for help. Blame should be laid squarely with Mitchell’s son. I would never allow my mother to become a homeless person. I certainly wouldn’t expect the LAPD to be responsible for her care.

GEORGE MORA

Los Angeles

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Finger-pointing hit an all-time low when Parks tried to lay blame for Mitchell’s death on her son. Mitchell’s son pleaded to the LAPD and other agencies for help but was refused. There was nothing he could do. Her untreated illness stole from her the normal family bond and our involuntary treatment laws did not allow him to get the medical treatment she so desperately needed.

Parks was right about one thing: Rather than finger-pointing, it’s time society starts putting resources into getting people off the streets by providing more community treatment and hospitalizing those who need hospitalization before they become a police problem. Our laws and inhumanity have made our streets a Bedlam and treat some people with mental illness as social discards.

CARLA JACOBS

Board Member, National Alliance

for the Mentally Ill, Long Beach