Cops’ indiscretion

Yes, Ray Sharkey of Norridgewock, it makes me nervous also, that police are permitted to “police” themselves (Readers Write, Oct. 25). Even more frightening is that the attorney general didn’t have the courage to censure the leader of that tragedy, the Hegarty case. I don’t feel the cops were in great crisis when they blasted that poor lady from the face of the earth.

The police, in recent years, have become something they didn’t used to be. There’s an obvious arrogance toward plain people. I saw a former New York cop on TV telling an investigative body he never feared being “caught” dealing drugs, in his case, because he WAS the police. That’s scary stuff.

A few years ago, several young Bangor cops beat up a former heavyweight boxing champion during a row at a roller skating rink. The boxer was injured seriously and permanently by these guys and offered no resistance to the cops’ blows. He was and is a firefighter locally and known to be a gentle giant to all who know him. He was pounded by seven or eight police. Many witnesses came forward to attest to the impropriety of the police resulting in the fighters acquittal and subsequent successful lawsuit. A substantial sum was awarded the fighter.

Of course, the city of Bangor, in its infinite wisdome, agreed to pay the award, but admit no wrongdoing on the part of the cops or the city.

In 1972, I sat on one of the most celebrated jury trials in the history of Boston. A Boston police officer was killed. Recently, the last of the people involved in that crime surrendered to Boston police. We on that jury found the triggerman guilty of murder for shooting that officer. The point I’m making is that I was never anti police. But I am a little ashamed of the recent pretentious tendencies of some, and worse, the actions of their superiors in covering for them.

No question, we do need a private citizen watchdog which in the initial stages of existence, will supersede any police, political, or friend of the misbegotten in judging how to deal with them.

When I served as a paratrooper, we were a proud, special group. I used to think of the police as such. No more. It’s the respect that has left me. These recent gifts of absolvement make me feel I’ve been had. I simply don’t believe these decisions were made by the proper people. Not all of us are fooled. If I were a police officer, I’d try to start a campaign to restore the former pride policement deserve so that we who care, and cause you the least trouble can feel confident about you again. George McCann Bangor