Editor:

As the son of a Phoenix police officer I was deeply offended by the allegations made by Ms. Huff in her article "The 'Griffiths' and the 'Fifes.'"

First of all, people should not write articles about things of which they have no knowledge, as Ms. Huff did.

Secondly, there is not an abundance of cops as Ms. Huff claims; there is a shortage. Ms. Huff, go to any city police department and take a look at the amount of overtime detectives work, especially those in the robbery and homicide divisions of the department, and you too will realize that there are not enough cops to handle all of the crimes that occur.

Finally, patrol officers are not out to harass people who are "just driving home." Their job is quite the opposite. Take for instance an armed robbery that occurred in Phoenix nearly a month ago. A patrol officer was ticketing a man when he heard the call over the radio that an armed robbery had just occurred at a bank less than a block away. What do you think this cop did? Probably ignore the robber and continue to harass the poor, innocent motorist, right? No, he left the motorist to chase an armed man, forgetting the traffic violation, and putting his life on the line to protect the innocent; to serve and protect. He could have played it safe by giving the motorist a ticket, but instead he wound up with a bullet in his dashboard and through his windshield while chasing a violent criminal.

And who was protected? The children of the day care center in which the robber tried to escape, the employees of the Domino's Pizza next door, and the myriad of bystanders innocently walking down the street.

Of course, you're probably right, and I am probably biased and too subjective. Then again, maybe you want to ask those employees at Domino's how important cops are, or maybe tell the children at that day care center just how worthless that policeman really is.

Robb Brunansky
piano performance sophomore