Pubdate: Tue, 29 Jan 2002
Source: Bucks County Courier Times (PA)
Copyright: 2002 Calkins Newspapers. Inc.
Contact: http://www.phillyburbs.com/feedback/content_cti.shtml
Website: http://www.phillyburbs.com/couriertimes/index.shtml
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1026
Author: Tom Woollam
Related: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v02/n114/a03.html, 
http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v02/n148/a02.html

NOTHING TO FEAR

These seem like extreme overreactions to what sounds like any ordinary 
encounter with police.

Guest opinion writer Hope Cunningham needs to realize that the police are 
there to help and there is nothing to fear. She should wake up and teach 
this to her daughter. Her daughter seems to be on the right track in 
stating that she's not worried about dogs being used to search for drugs in 
her school.

Ms. Cunningham writes that she was extremely confused when she came upon 
the police checkpoint. Later, she says she was scared and insecure as she 
drove away from the encounter. These seem like extreme overreactions to 
what sounds like any ordinary encounter.

Ms. Cunningham points out that the officers had chuckled about her not 
wearing her seat belt and that they had merely "poked fun at her" and let 
her go. Ms. Cunningham says she was "stopped illegally" (probably not), 
"searched" (I doubt it) and "called a liar" (a silly representation of what 
she already described as a chuckling remark). She implies that she was 
subjected to illegal "search and seizure." What search? What was seized?

It is true that we may have to make some concessions for the sake of 
security. Cunningham should follow the sensible lead of her daughter and 
relax. There's no reason to be confused when she sees police or to be 
scared and insecure from a routine encounter. The police are not out to get 
her. They are there to help.

Tom Woollam, Richboro
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D