Letter to Denver Post
September 4, 2022
Re: “Here’s why I’m leaving law enforcement, Aug. 28 commentary I think former Speaker Terrance Carroll’s recent column lamenting his “love that never was” for law enforcement is off target by narrowing his criticism to law enforcement as an institution.
That would help explain why crime rates have climbed to record levels and, more importantly, why some of our nation’s highest leaders have politicized riots and insurrection under the guise of legitimate protest. Necessary and reasonable police reform measures have been replaced with the same type of stereotypical thinking that helped create polarization in the first place.
I strongly support non-violent protests and reform measures, but now it seems that mass shootings are more common. The easy answer is to blame it on gun laws and racism instead of questioning a culture defined by an American dream that, for many, better resembles a corporate game of whack-a-mole.
Many occupations, including firefighters and construction workers, often have the same beliefs and backgrounds as police, but the police more often have to confront crime in progress. Let’s not minimize that challenge by doing a 180 with reality.
Tim Allport, Arvada