Police Photos

March, 2010

I am a retired California law enforce­ment officer, and after 29 years of dealing with the public I can guaran­tee you police officers believe in free speech. In your defense of Henry LouisGates ("Contempt of Cop," November), you assert that "being unpleasant and erratic is not a crime." Your editors need to ride with a cop and see what it's like to encounter an unpleasant or erratic person. Officers have to make an immediate assessment—for their own safety. From there the de...