Why be a police officer? Just take a look around

Why be a police officer?Just take a look around
EDITOR:
On April 29, the call on the radio was officer down. A Youngstown police officer had been killed in the line of duty. I did not know this brave officer, Michael Hartzell, but my eyes instantly filled with tears and my heart with sadness. I became angry at the senseless killing and knew I would be attending another officer's funeral soon. I then thought "that could have been me" and more tears filled my eyes as I thought of how it would have affected my family. This tragedy also made me stop and wonder why I do my job and why this brave young officer had to die doing his. This question was soon answered.
The day of the funeral, a thousand officers and at least 500 cruisers lined the streets. It was an amazing sight. This sight brought tears to the eyes of the thousands who lined the route that was traveled by the procession escorting our fallen brother to his final resting place. Along the way I found the answer to my question. There was a man standing at attention saluting and women wiping tears from their eyes saying thank you to the officers as they passed. These sights moved me and my fellow officers greatly and made us all proud of what we do. Then all of a sudden the answer was right in front of me. I saw a small boy standing alongside the road no more than 3 or 4 years old. He was wearing a police officer's hat, holding an American flag in one hand and was saluting with the other. This sight brought tears to my eyes instantly. In seeing this small child, I knew why we put our lives on the line each day for total strangers.
As the bagpipes played Amazing Grace and the trumpets sounded Taps, the tears flowed from the eyes of a thousand officers, and I knew that this brave young officer did not die in vain and heaven surely had a spot for him.
CORPORAL JIM MASOTTO
Sharon Police Department
In the long run, gambling takes hold of a person's soul
EDITOR:
Bill Bennett author of "The Book of Virtues" supposedly lost $8 million gambling. No mater how one might try to defend Bennett's addiction to gambling, it's impossible to come up with a scenario how gambling will not in the long run take hold of a person's soul, and destroy family, friends and self.
The experts on the subject -- Gamblers Anonymous -- know the answers after hearing thousands of testimonials of gamblers' fortunes being lost.
There are only four routes a person can take once addicted -- insanity, prison, death or recovery.
These are high prices to pay for investing in a industry that takes in billions of dollars a year and does not produce a product.
There is no safe dollar value when gambling. A penny ante stakes poker game can develop into a $400 an hour addiction to video lottery machines -- the crack cocaine of gambling.
What's a person to do? Bill Bennett said "I quit I had enough." Bennett chose the recovery route.
STEVE KOPA
Weirton, W.Va.
Poland's three Rs: reading, 'riting and running up debt
EDITOR:
Poland Schools do it again!
The state auditor's report certified Jan. 28 states that on May 1, 2002, the district entered into a $5.5 million lease-purchase agreement with First Place Bank to finance the construction, enlarging or other improvements on district sites. The source of revenue to fund the principal and interest payments is derived from general operating revenues of the district.
This lease terminates May 1, 2032, at which time the taxpayers will have paid First Place Bank $9,593,025, of which $4,093,025 is interest.
We were told at a public meeting that most taxpayers don't know the difference between funds for capital improvements and operating expense. I do know this is our tax dollars and incurred debt. It appears our school leaders believe debt stands for:
Dedicated
Educators
Budget
Tactics
F. GENE McCULLOUGH
Poland