A DUTY TO HELP

Re: "A snitch in time," Letter, June 14.

If Cedric Sylvester believes that the idea of meter readers assisting
the police in the pursuit of crime is teaching children to "rat on
each other," I am surprised he did not get all agitated long ago when
such schemes as Crime Stoppers were initiated.

Would he consider it "ratting" if his daughter had been raped or
murdered and someone came forward identifying the criminal? Wouldn't
this be a perfect example of the police "having no better tactic than
to turn to (the) public," to quote Sylvester?

It is the duty of every one of us who wishes to live in a decent
society to assist the authorities in every way possible to apprehend
lawbreakers. Some -- in this case, meter readers -- are in a better
position to do so than are others. They should be applauded for their
assistance.

Terry Parsons

Calgary