Debate should include what responders do to protect and serve us

Posted on by Letters

Watching the video of the death of Eric Garner in New York was disturbing. The decision by the district attorney or grand jury not to indict confuses me. The only good to come of this may be the public debate on arrest procedures and appropriate use of force. I also truly believe those New York police officers have deep personal remorse for the life lost and the part they so obviously played.

The public debate also needs to include what the great majority of good police officers, firefighters and emergency responders do to protect and serve us all. Many have (or will at some point in their careers) put themselves in peril. I personally witnessed Black Mountain firefighters take great personal risk jumping into flames to save my home in 2001.

It is my hope that the local media would offer a more complete perspective to the national and local discussion about the crucial services these people do. Perhaps the Mountain Xpress might report on some firsthand experiences of some of the many good deeds these men and women have done to keep us safe and enforce our laws.

Doug Brock

Black Mountain

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One thought on “Debate should include what responders do to protect and serve us”

  1. Jimmy Darlington

    Absolutely. We need to thank those who risk their lives to keep us safe. Police officers, fire fighters, soldiers, sailors, marines, air force, coast guard. Thank you all!

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