Police and fire departments need funding

To the editor:

On April 11, our son, Greg Smith, was involved in a terrible accident on Interstate 55. The concrete truck he was driving blew a tire and rolled over and over down an embankment to land on its side with Greg pinned in the smashed cab.

The accident occurred in the East Cape Girardeau County Fire Protection District. Cape Girardeau's fire department provided extrication, assisted by departments from Fruitland and Jackson. The extrication, which took 2 1/2 hours to assure our son's safety, was hampered by budget cuts as the fire department couldn't afford updated airbag equipment to lift the truck.

Recently, a quarter-cent sales tax for the fire department didn't pass in Cape Girardeau. Has our community forgotten the heroic efforts of the fire and police departments on Sept. 11, 2001? Whom do you turn to in emergencies? Who is willing to put his life on the line to save you? How will you feel watching in desperation while someone tries to free your child, wife or friends with substandard equipment?

I encourage everyone to vote for pay raises and equipment updates for the fire and police departments. It is needed to protect you. I also encourage everyone whose lives have been touched by a fireman or policeman to make a contribution and say thank you again for a job well done and to upgrade equipment for the next person who will need emergency care.

We are eternally grateful to God and everyone involved in our son's rescue and care.

DR. and MRS. ROY P. MEYER

Cape Girardeau

Editor's note: Contributions may be sent to Cape Girardeau Fire Department, 1 S. Sprigg, Cape Girardeau, Mo., 63701, or to the Cape Girardeau Police Department, 40 S. Sprigg, Cape Girardeau, Mo. 63701.