GESTAPO TACTICS

The stimulus for this letter is the recent Gestapo tactics at
Stratford High School. The Post and Courier reported that the police
said, "Several drew their guns but did not use force." The act itself
was an intimidating implication of deadly force, regardless of
whatever phrases are applied to temper public reaction!

While I support the zero tolerance drug policy, I question the
judgment (this is as nice as I can phrase it) of leadership involved
in this situation.

Of course, I'll be told that I don't have all the information or some
other excuse that will attempt to pacify me, but that does not excuse
the fact that:

1) The children of our community were held at gunpoint by the
institution that we, the taxpayers, depend on to protect them from
that very thing!

2) While the police stated that days of surveillance tapes showed
suspected drug deals, not one arrest was made nor were drugs, weapons
or a large amount of cash found.

3) This took place in one of the supposedly best schools in our
district and state.

4) The leadership of the school and district, which we, the taxpayers,
depend on to provide a safe learning environment, condones placing our
children at gunpoint by their permissiveness of this situation.

Is there no semblance of common sense in the institutions meant to
educate and protect our children? When the children of our community
are threatened/ intimidated or whatever anyone wishes to call it, in
our schools, by our police force with guns drawn, while school
leadership is looking on (or looking the other way), the ends do not
justify the means and people need to be held accountable!

I have two teenage children. My son is in the Army, and my daughter
(presently) attends Stratford. The current thought I have is that my
son is in a safer environment.

NEIL TACKETT

206 Mulberry Drive

Summerville