OFFICERS' TOP PRIORITY SHOULD BE PROTECTION

Re: Ridgeland drug-related seizure includes $22,000.

Chief Richard Woods glib defense of keeping a full-time patrol car on I-95
conceals that this misguided contribution to America's long- failed drug
crusade keeps half of Ridgeland police force out of town 12 hours a day.

Ridgeland citizens who become victims of property crimes, assaults, rapes
and murders may not appreciate that they are getting watered down police
protection because of Chief Woods' appetite for seizing drug money "to
purchase more equipment." Never mind that the new equipment will be used
for more drug work, not protecting the townspeople.

This policy is likely to cause some innocent citizen to become victim to a
terrible crime because the police are too busy stopping motorists "for
following too close to another vehicle" to adequately protect the community.

Redford Givens

San Francisco