Letter to the Editor: Officers distracted by wrong kind of offenses

September 12, 2003
Columbus Dispatch

I congratulate the Columbus Division of Police for its vigilant pursuit of people with open containers at the Ohio State football game Aug. 30. The police issued more than 50 tickets for open-container violations at the game.

By the way, at that same time, a worker at a Wendy’s restaurant was shot to death. It is too bad the shooter didn’t have an open container — he might have been arrested.

DAVID M. STRAPP
Columbus

Click here to read the letter in the Columbus Dispatch (subscription site - paid access only).

Click on the "Read More..." link below to view an excellent follow-up email, entitled "Don’t blame police for city’s lack of priorities."

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September 18, 2003

David Strapp’s letter to the editor in the Friday Dispatch wrongly implied that the Columbus Division of Police decided to aggressively pursue open-container violations on the Ohio State University campus. Does he not understand that the Columbus police are doing what the city and the university told them to do?

The fact that other more serious crimes are being committed should not be interpreted as police officers failing to do their jobs. It’s just another indication that the police force is short on officers and stretched too thin.

When officers are routinely pulled off of their regular assignments every home-game Saturday to walk up and down Lane Avenue, other areas of the community will suffer.

Of course, Columbus Mayor Michael B. Coleman already has delivered the message that the police force is not a priority, so don’t expect things to get better.

JULIE CARRIER
Powell

Click here to read Carrier's letter in the Columbus Dispatch (subscription site - paid access only).