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Editor:
I am shocked at Roelant Verbeek's letter ("UAPD officers paid well enough for their jobs," Oct. 14). To assume that the highly trained members of UAPD are nothing more than overpaid security guards is absurd. The officers are trained at the Arizona Law Enforcement Training Academy. They receive and must pass the training as other police officers. They are entitled to be paid well for their often heroic work.
Security guards barely make $6 an hour, have no formal training in law enforcement and are given handguns.
To say UAPD officers are nothing more than glorified security guards is ignorant to say the least. To imply that they are paid more than enough is absolutely stupid. My father is now a sergeant with the Arizona Highway Patrol. When I was younger and my father was an officer, we lived below the poverty level for a few years because people like you said they made too much money.
My father has been honored many times with medals and plaques. You should be lucky to have my father or any UAPD officer respond if you were in a bad situation.
I hope you read Deputy Chief Hueston's extremely polite letter and take him up on his offer of a ride-along. You would see they are worth more than the measly hourly rate they are paid.
UAPD officers are always being trained on new techniques. They will soon be given mace and trained in the handling of the harmful chemical.
They must be trained for any situation, whether trying to talk a shooter into giving up or trying to talk someone bent on suicide from coming down off the stadium, as was done Saturday night. They receive firearm training four times a year.
April E. Turner
journalism junior
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