Readers React: Of course the woman forcibly removed from a Metro train is filing a claim against the the city

To the editor: This is a perfect example of a system that coddles the wrongdoers and then ultimately rewards them: The young woman profanely flouts the orders of a Los Angeles Police Department officer to remove her feet from a seat (and then refuses his order for her to leave the train), is lawfully arrested for it and then, most assuredly, will be eventually remunerated for essentially being punished. (“Woman pulled from subway train by LAPD files claim alleging excessive force,” Jan. 29)

Keep in mind, had she not resisted arrested or simply obeyed the officer, she would not have suffered an injury.

In effect, we’re allowing the lawbreakers to take over this political system of insanity.

Giuseppe Mirelli, Los Angeles

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To the editor: Is disrespect illegal?

The LAPD sergeant who recently dragged a passenger off a Metro Red Line train showed a classic dynamic: The authority figure is more irate at being disrespected than by the underlying alleged infraction.

Why couldn’t he have simply issued a citation? But no, his authority was challenged, so he asserted his power while exceeding his authority, at the expense of a simply petulant and disrespectful passenger.

That abuse of power by our hired law enforcers is a serious offense. Feet on a seat is simply ticketable — and disrespect is not illegal.

Dave Fertig, Pasadena

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