NOTHING TO FEAR

These seem like extreme overreactions to what sounds like any ordinary
encounter with police.

Guest opinion writer Hope Cunningham needs to realize that the police are
there to help and there is nothing to fear. She should wake up and teach
this to her daughter. Her daughter seems to be on the right track in
stating that she's not worried about dogs being used to search for drugs in
her school.

Ms. Cunningham writes that she was extremely confused when she came upon
the police checkpoint. Later, she says she was scared and insecure as she
drove away from the encounter. These seem like extreme overreactions to
what sounds like any ordinary encounter.

Ms. Cunningham points out that the officers had chuckled about her not
wearing her seat belt and that they had merely "poked fun at her" and let
her go. Ms. Cunningham says she was "stopped illegally" (probably not),
"searched" (I doubt it) and "called a liar" (a silly representation of what
she already described as a chuckling remark). She implies that she was
subjected to illegal "search and seizure." What search? What was seized?

It is true that we may have to make some concessions for the sake of
security. Cunningham should follow the sensible lead of her daughter and
relax. There's no reason to be confused when she sees police or to be
scared and insecure from a routine encounter. The police are not out to get
her. They are there to help.

Tom Woollam, Richboro