LETTERS: DON'T HOLD BACK YOUR RESPECT FOR THE POLICE

To the editor:

A recent Speak Out comment was interesting because it assumed that if you complain about police officers, then you don't respect them. And if you remain silent, you hold them in high esteem. That's not necessarily true.

Behind every disdainful Speak Out comment is a person with unanswered questions. I believe most, if not all, of these people have a deep respect for officers, but that respect is buried beneath feelings of disappointment, fear and anger. To be angry at officers is to care that they live up to the expectations of this most honorable profession.

How does one deal with unpleasant feelings about officers? One way is to be apathetic. We call on officers whenever we need them, and the rest of the time we don't give them a second thought. This shield of apathy helps us avoid dealing with some very intense emotions, but it doesn't solve this problem.

Disgruntled people have as much right to voice themselves as any Speak Out caller. But we should be angry with the people who have positive feelings toward officers and never say a word. By choosing to remain silent, these people are passively degrading officers and themselves and are missing their chance to have some positive impact on others.

LORIE PEATS

Jackson, Mo.