Overstepping authority
I am writing this in regard to the Michael Ellerbe shooting and the numerous other incidents involving police officers. I do think being a police officer is a very dangerous and demanding job. I do not think though that the police should use their power of authority as a weapon. We should be able to look at police as someone who will help us instead of someone we fear. I live in the small community of Republic. We call our local police Republic’s Finest. Whenever the police come up to our young men in Republic they sometimes run also, not because they are always doing something wrong but because they know they are going to be harassed. I have a 16-year-old son who was in Dunlap Creek Village one night around 10. Granted, he was out past curfew. But we used to live in Dunlap Creek Village, so he does have friends who still live there. I am a single mother who tries very hard to raise her children right. In this day and age this is a very hard task.
On this particular night I was just getting home from work and as soon as I walked in the door I received a phone call from our local police and was told they were bringing my son home because he was out past curfew. I thanked the officer for calling and hung up.
I later learned that my son was taken to their local office known as the shed and interrogated. When the officer brought my son home he told me he was going to make him miserable. Now you tell me was this really necessary?
My son does not deal drugs, as is the stereotype that society has put on our black men, and he still attends school. I am sure that there are plenty of white men who deal drugs, but how often do you read about them being arrested? As soon as I heard about Ellerbe’s shooting the first thing I thought was it could have been one of my boys in this situation.
You can replace a vehicle, but Michael cannot be replaced. Was that truck so priceless that it cost a person to lose his live? Everyone needs to really think about that.
Rose Williams
Republic
Sneddons owed an apology?
I have known Kyle and Marsha Sneddon for more than 20 years. I am proud to call them friends. I worked with Marsha for 10 years in the medical field. She was an excellent nurse throughout her nursing career. Kyle, as chief of police, has an excellent reputation also. He works very hard and is totally dedicated to his work. He is involved in crime stopping organizations and many other community services. If you need anything, Kyle’s there for you. My family has also known them and their family for years.
We were all disgusted when we read the article printed in this newspaper regarding the mistake Marsha made. This certainly wasn’t newsworthy, let alone headlines. This is typical reporting of the Herald-Standard. You have a history of printing opinionated articles rather than truths.
Unfortunately the Sneddons are not the only one victimized by this newspaper. You see it all the time. The reputation is negative almost anywhere and to anyone.
The reporter who wrote the Sneddon article owes them an apology. I would like to say to Kyle and Marsha, “hold your heads up high,” and the reporters should hang their head in shame.
Beth Nehls Domonkos
Perryopolis