Police Review Boards

John Julis’ Aug. 12 letter implies that there is some shame to having the actions of a police officer formally reviewed after a shooting. Professionals in most fields have major decisions reviewed in the normal course of business. An engineer will have her design for a bridge reviewed before it is built, to ensure that it does not pose a danger to the public. Because we cannot ask our public safety officers to submit their decisions to review before the fact, we rely on post facto review boards to ensure that their training and decision-making were effective.

Our police have an awesome responsibility that may require life-and-death decisions. That the officers involved were found to have been justified in their actions (“Killing of Abductor Is Ruled Justified,” Aug. 8) is an honor to their professionalism and training.

John Willmore

Orange