Police deserve our appreciation
Police deserve our appreciation
Policing is a dangerous business, and we need to appreciate and laud our police officers for what they do. Within the week, July 6 to 13, three brave Hawaii County police officers were injured in the line of duty.
During a two-day period, July 6 and 7, two officers (“Officer who broke hand in traffic stop identified,” West Hawaii Today, July 9) were injured — one with a broken hand and another hurt after being kicked by a suspect who was resisting arrest.
Then on Monday, July 13, another officer was shot in North Kohala during a stand-off incident.
Police officers constantly face unpredictable dangers imposed on them by individuals who have no respect for the law or any regard for others. Three police injuries in only a week’s time tells me that our police officers deserve our respect and gratitude. We live in violent times, and it is the willingness of the police to face life-threatening situations that keeps our society in balance and our streets safe.
Richard Dinges
Hilo
Why are battalion chiefs still not working?
Can anybody please tell me — anybody hopefully being Mayor Billy Kenoi, Fire Chief Darren Rosario or any of our County Council members — why is it we still have two Hawaii County Fire Department battalion chiefs not at work but getting paid?
They have been on administrative leave (no charge to the individual) for nearly a year, all the time collecting a pay check and accumulating vacation time and sick leave hours as well. That’s nearly $100,000 of our taxpayers’ money the county has paid each of these chiefs for not coming to work.
Wow. Where do I sign up for that job?
Matthew Texeira
Hilo