To the Editor:

Who is the police officer?

A police officer is the agent of the government which is assigned to execute the law and order in the society. If a citizen defies police orders or acts in a defiant way, then this defiant behavior not only is defying the police officer but it is defying the law itself. So, when a police officer shoots people, it is not because the criminal justice system is broken but it is because some people defy authorities and the law.

For example, a law-abiding citizen would pull over and stop instead of keep driving when he saw a police car flashing light behind him. When a police officer asks him to stop and put his hands up, he would do so instead of keep walking or throwing up his hands in the anger gesture.

A suspect who keeps driving, and who keeps walking, and throws up his hands is defying the law and order. In this situation, police might interpret this as irregular behavior, as well as this person might have a gun. So it is a prudent action for police to shoot before being shot, because others will do the same if police became powerless in the face of somebody defying law and order.

It is well known in America that everyone has a constitutional right to have a firearm, Typically police expect possession of a gun in any situation. Also a police officer has a constitutional right to protect his or her life or others who might be in harm's way.



So, in my opinion the question is why we do not respect police orders and not why police shoot people.

Some people may say we do not respect police because there is a problem between whites and blacks in America. Now, if there is a problem, then why do we risk our lives by provoking a condition that would lead to someone being black encountering a white officer that culminates in a deadly shooting?

I do not hate my race, but things should be put in the right place. American police have more knowledgeable of laws than any police in the world, and renders more services and benefits more than harmful actions. And I'm sure that people who hate police can call 911 to be rescued by the police when they are in a helpless situation. But they hate police when a police officer is doing her/his job against these people. If our country is a country of laws as people say, then why we want some of us to be restrained by the law and others should be dealt with leniently.

Martin Gop

Syracuse