OPINION: Be glad that police make difficult decisions every day

In response to a recent letter criticizing police for engaging in chases with suspects:

I am a retired police officer with 30 years experience at a large city agency. Large or ultra small, it doesn’t matter. Law enforcement in the U.S. is the same. The best on earth live everywhere... the worst on earth live everywhere. Socio-economic status makes no difference.

The “real world”? Really. You clearly don’t live in the “real world.” Police officers do!

I’ve initiated many a pursuit from brake lights out to a stolen car with a kidnapped baby in the back seat. I’ve chosen to pursue vehicles that fled a speeding violation to find they just shot and killed a robbery victim.

Yep... it happens everywhere. Everywhere. Police don’t just magically identify the driver as a 15-year-old, or a 40-year-old hardened criminal like those recently killed and captured in N.Y.

If your daughter had just been raped and the only motor vehicle violation was a broken taillight, do you want the police to not pursue a violent felon?

During my hundreds (yes, hundreds) of high speed pursuits in 30 years, I saw four innocent people die at the hands of the “bad guys.” They all met life prison sentences at that cost of life.

I received commendation, as have thousands of other law enforcement officers throughout the country, for my bravery and commitment to professionalism in the face of incredible danger you might quickly run from.

It truly sickens me to see people’s unbelievable ignorance about what law enforcement officers face. Please hold your tongue when it comes to stuff you know nothing about. —Mark Parker, Kalispell