Letters: Amid scuffles, cops pro & con

NOW THINGS are coming more into the light about some of these physically abusive Philadelphia police officers. To attack a man for no reason is wrong. Thankfully, it happened in front of several lawyers, but the man still got assaulted badly. My opinion is that the officers should be in the same cell next to him.

Some police officers believe that the badge means you can harm anybody, and most don't care who they hurt. But now, not only did they assault this man, they assaulted an innocent woman - and not just any woman, but a public-defender lawyer.

Someone needs to be fired, and I'm pointing my finger at the people in blue.

Kevin T. Fowler

Philadelphia

I found the article "Cops scuffle with suspect leaves attorney injured," by Dana DiFilippo, quite disturbing. Not so much because of the content, but because of the lack of quality in the reporting.

Your reporter relied solely on accounts given by defense attorneys, who already have an adversarial view of police officers. In describing the encounter, Ms. DiFilippo also failed to use the word "allegedly," which your paper routinely uses when describing acts committed by anyone other than police officers. Her failure to use that word implies that what happened was fact and not alleged, taking away any notion that the encounter is in dispute.

She also felt the need to mention Officer Chisholm's involvement in a lawsuit from 2006, yet failed to mention the officer's awards for valor from acts of bravery in the performance of his duties. She found the time to call the officer's district of assignment to try and speak with him, even though every reporter in this city should know that an officer cannot speak to the press on a matter like this unless the reporter first goes through Public Affairs. Yet, when she did contact a police spokesman, she didn't bother getting any positive information about Officer Chisholm.

The readers' perception of the press is that it is always fair and balance. But I guess when it comes to Philadelphia police officers, that goes out the window. Shame on Ms. DiFilippo for not keeping with the ethics of journalism from behind the safety of her desk on Market Street.

Joe Leighthardt

Philadelphia

Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey stated that the Police Department has 213 fewer officers due to the recruits failing to pass the reading, fitness and polygraph tests.

I find this to be very hilarious and sad. You, Commissioner Ramsey, reduced your selection pool when you changed the minimum requirements. I guess those 60 college credits didn't really mean that the Police Department would get a candidate more qualified than a person with a high-school diploma. I'm not going to touch on the fact that you said, "The job recruiting African-American officers is hard because of the recent national news of violent clashes with police." That's a subject for another day.

Commissioner Ramsey, you blocked out so many qualified and good-hearted people who already work for you in a civilian capacity. We may not have gone to college, we may not have served in the military, we may not have ever been a Police Cadet, but that doesn't mean we aren't excellent candidates for police recruitment. How about you having a recruitment campaign just for your dedicated civilian employees who can pass the reading, fitness and polygragh tests? I guarantee that you would fill some of those 213 vacant spots with African-Americans who aren't afraid of the recent national news.

Shearon Palmer

Philadelphia

Flowers for Abraham

The recent column on Lynne Abraham by Christine Flowers was enriching, inspiring and, unfortunately, true. By way of disclosure, I am not acquainted with Ms. Abraham in any way. Lord knows, as a New Jersey resident there is more than enough political fodder on this side of the river to keep me occupied. What I do know is that she gained my utmost respect in the way she handled her very public fainting spell. Humor, humbleness and honesty go a long way in my book.

I cringed (probably a lot more than she did) at some of the dark humor and comments that followed. But such despicable behavior is what we have come to expect when it comes to the treatment of our "advanced" folk. Maybe one fine day we will all come to the realization that we owe each other (the young as well as the old) both dignity and value.

Joseph Ridgway

Marlton, N.J.

Smarten up to scams

I've been reading a lot lately about telephone scams, i.e. false lotteries, grandchildren in jail, false inheritances, and, now, IRS scams. This news is very disconcerting, not because of the number of people who are trying to steal your money, but rather the number of stupid people who are taken in.

What's the matter with you people? You must know better. Can't you call someone, a relative, a friend, a neighbor or the police if you have no one else before you pay someone, not with a check, but with a pre-paid card, that no business or government agency would ask for? At the very least stop answering your phone if you don't recognize the number.

Smarten up people, stop making yourselves victims.

Joe Orenstein

Philadelphia