ANDERSON DIDN'T SPEAK FOR RANK-AND-FILE

To the editor:

Jacob Sullum is wrong and misinformed ("Nevada cops got pot issue
right the first time," Aug 13.) Andy Anderson is not "Nevada cops" --
not in any sense of the phrase. We are more than 3,000 strong and when
we spoke out we got it right. We said "No" to marijuana.

The "public outcry" that caused the group (NCOPS) to reconsider the
endorsement of Question 9 was an outcry by the cops, prompted by this
outrageous endorsement by one man (Andy Anderson) on behalf of more
than 3,000 officers, claiming that we support legalizing marijuana.

Columnist John L. Smith had it right when he said, "One can only guess
what Nevada Conference of Police and Sheriffs President Andy Anderson
was smoking last week when he announced his group's endorsement of the
controversial marijuana initiative without a vote of the board."

It is not the fault of the police officer that the arrest process
takes a certain amount of time. If the citizens are not satisfied that
there are a sufficient number of officers available to respond to
calls and confront problems in a timely fashion, then fund and hire
more officers.

As for pro-active, self-initiated contacts, I would be very proud to
make an arrest of someone who has three ounces of marijuana in his/her
possession. Furthermore, I'll bet that you all want me to make that
arrest. Don't agree? Imagine how you'll feel when you find three
ounces of marijuana in your child's or grandchild's drawer. Bet you
wish I'd made that arrest, now.

Think about that when you vote on Question 9.

RUSSELL A. WOOD

LAS VEGAS