Need money? Why patrol I-55?

To the editor:

I see that congratulations are in order to our elected city officials. After months of wrangling, cajoling and begging for the residents to pass a tax increase for our firefighters and policemen, the fruit of their labors have paid off. All previously vacant positions in the police force have been filled. We now have so many policemen working the streets that they are getting in each other's way while on patrol. Crime has been totally eliminated. There have been no break-ins, thefts or robberies. Drugs are completely gone from our streets, and not one person has driven an automobile after taking a drink of alcohol.

How did I reach this obvious conclusion? On Sept. 8 I passed a Cape Girardeau policeman sitting in the median of Interstate 55 conducting a speed-enforcement zone. What made this situation worse was that not more than five minutes before I was passed by a car in front of Clippard Elementary School while in a 20-mph school zone.

Do not ever cry to me again about not having the manpower or equipment that our police force needs to effectively work the streets of Cape Girardeau. And do not ask me to approve a tax increase. If our police force is able to patrol I-55 and not our city streets, then it appears to have all the money and equipment it needs.

STEVEN PEEL, Cape Girardeau