DON'T DESERVE COMPASSION

I read with anger the articles concerning Mobile police officers being
arrested for drug possession ("Officers arrested on drug charges,"
Feb. 7, and "Details emerge," Feb. 8). I wasn't angry because the cops
were arrested, as they most certainly were worthy candidates for that.
I was angry because of the kid-glove treatment they received vs. the
treatment received by the non-badge-wearing guy on the street arrested
for doing the same thing.

For instance, the paper said Chief Phillip Garrett observed that
"there was no indication that officers Brooks and Porter had used
drugs or sold them." So, what exactly were these fine men in blue
supposedly doing with the drugs and money they allegedly seized?
Holding onto it for a medical emergency? Stocking up for the coming
recession, perhaps?

Anyone else caught with crack cocaine and money would have been
labeled a "king pin" and probably would have lost their pay.

In the second story, Chief Garrett was quoted as saying, "We do have
compassion for them."

What about compassion for the people who don't wear a badge who
succumb to temptation? Where is the compassion for regular folks
caught doing the same thing? Are cops more worthy of compassion than
regular people?

A regular black man found with "less than an ounce of crack and $360
in cash" would likely have been tasered, tackled and hauled to jail.
There was no tasering or tackling with these arrests. No drug task
force kicked in these officers' doors at 3 a.m. using a no-knock
warrant and flash-bang grenades.

I don't normally advocate jail for drug offenses, but I do if cops are
found with the drugs from people they have arrested.

If these cops are convicted, I do hope that any cases involving
testimony from them will be given a thorough second look.

Loretta Nall

Alexander City