RISKY BUSINESS

Editor, Naples Daily News:

Re: Letter-writer Sandra Camara's concerns about law enforcement's use of
firearms.

Ms. Camara asks if the recent shooting involving the Collier County
Sheriff's SWAT team was necessary. I don't know. You don't know. The only
people who do know were there.

We will all find out the details after the investigation is complete.
However, I suspect that the shooting was justified, for the very reason
cited by Ms. Camara: the SWAT team consists of highly trained men. They
spend most of their time practicing the job they performed that unfortunate
day.

Search warrants served at homes where narcotics are suspected to be present
are extremely high-risk. There is a strong correlation between narcotics
sales and the use/possession of firearms. These deputies who protect our
community from such illegal activity are equipped to deal with threats as
quickly and responsibly as humanly possible. This includes the use of firearms.

Ms. Camara, law-enforcement officers place themselves at risk for all of us
every day, but they must be allowed to protect themselves and others from
dangerous people. Your letter implies that officers should first try to
physically restrain suspects rather than utilize deadly force. I'm sorry,
but that is just not feasible in some situations, like the incident on
Fifth Avenue South where an armed robber was walking toward a crowd. Or in
River Park, where an armed felon was pointing a gun at a police officer.

Perhaps the police should wait until someone is shot first before using
their own firearms.

Michael O'Reilly

Naples/Secretary, Fraternal Order of Police