Don't Deserve Compassion

In a very quick turn around the letter I submitted to the Press-Register yesterday was printed in today's edition....with only minor editing.

Thanks Press-Register

Don't dseserve compassion

I read with anger the articles concerning Mobile police officers being arrested for drug possession ("Officers arrested on drug charges," Feb. 7, and "Details emerge," Feb. 8). I wasn't angry because the cops were arrested, as they most certainly were worthy candidates for that. I was angry because of the kid-glove treatment they received vs. the treatment received by the non-badge-wearing guy on the street arrested for doing the same thing.

For instance, the paper said Chief Phillip Garrett observed that "there was no indication that officers Brooks and Porter had used drugs or sold them." So, what exactly were these fine men in blue supposedly doing with the drugs and money they allegedly seized? Holding onto it for a medical emergency? Stocking up for the coming recession, perhaps?

Anyone else caught with crack cocaine and money would have been labeled a "king pin" and probably would have lost their pay. (this was edited slightly from the original sentence)

In the second story, Chief Garrett was quoted as saying, "We do have compassion for them."

What about compassion for the people who don't wear a badge who succumb to temptation? Where is the compassion for regular folks caught doing the same thing? Are cops more worthy of compassion than regular people?

A regular black man found with "less than an ounce of crack and $360 in cash" would likely have been tasered, tackled and hauled to jail. There was no tasering or tackling with these arrests. No drug task force kicked in these officers' doors at 3 a.m. using a no-knock warrant and flash-bang grenades.

I don't normally advocate jail for drug offenses, but I do if cops are found with the drugs from people they have arrested.

If these cops are convicted, I do hope that any cases involving testimony from them will be given a thorough second look.

LORETTA NALL

Alexander City