North Las Vegas top cop did the right thing by resigning

     To the editor:
      I read John L. Smith's March 20 column with great disappointment and disagreement. Usually he writes very interesting and thought-provoking articles, but he is off base saying that the North Las Vegas mayor and city manager did a "dumb deed" by asking North Las Vegas Police Chief Alan Nelson to resign.
      Chief Nelson was an appointed official hired to uphold the law, not break the law.
      How can I teach my son not to break laws, not to drink and drive, when if it were up to Mr. Smith, Chief Nelson would have received a slap on the hand and a 40-hour suspension?
      My son received a ticket from a North Las Vegas police officer recently for having "blue" neon lights on his car. The officer swore at him, handcuffed him, frisked him and threw his pager, threatened him with arrest, said he didn't care about him or his car. He threatened to destroy and kick out his lights.
      First of all, my son showed no disrespect and asked the officer to please just turn off the lights.
      Second, the lights on his car do not show, they only glow on the street.
      Third, the lights are not illegal according to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department and the Nevada Highway Patrol.
      I took pictures of my son's wrists showing handcuff marks (even six hours later) and of his car with lavender lights and went to file a complaint about this officer and his mistreatment of my son. The deparment wanted to just give the complaint to the chief, but I requested that it go to Internal Affairs. After a written and recorded statement from my son, we were told the officer would be called in for a statement and -- assuming it would be his word against my son's -- that we would be called back for lie detector tests. This never happened.
      Then we received a letter from Chief Nelson stating that the allegations of misconduct were not sustained. The next day, I asked Internal Affairs to return my call as my son and I want the polygraph test done. So far, no call.
      So, Mr. Smith, not even a slap on the hand to the officer who mistreated my son.
      Now, with the ticket, we went to the court date, only to be told that because my son is pleading not guilty, we have to come back to court and see a judge next week. Before we come back, we need to see a city attorney for pre-trial. This will make four times that I am missing work, and my son is missing high school and work.
      My son works at a Strip hotel, for which he had to pass a drug test and pass training at the YMCA. He makes good grades and has never been in trouble. Are our police so afraid that they have to handcuff, swear at and over-use their authority on young men of our community?
     DEBBIE CADE
     North Las Vegas
     
     -- To the editor:
      If there is anyone dumber than Alan Nelson, ex-police chief of North Las Vegas, it would be your columnist, John L. Smith.
      Mr. Smith, evidently, is not aware that a lifetime of example, leadership and good character can be thrown away in minutes. We suggest that he ask Mr. Nelson if this is not so.
      Mr. Nelson's stupidity and weakness should not be blamed upon Mayor Seastrand and City Manager Hinson. They are blameless and have displayed character and leadership.
      A man is as he does; likewise a columnist, a city, a county, a state, a nation. All of us are known by our fruits.
      We congratulate Mr. Nelson upon his voluntary -- or otherwise -- resignation. He, at least, showed some character.
     G.A. SMITH
     Boulder City