Readers weigh in on Metro crash column

Comments keep coming on Wednesday’s column on the senseless death of Metro Officer Milburn Beitel, who was killed Oct. 7 after an on-duty accident in which he was traveling 71 mph in a posted 45 mph and not wearing a seat belt.

As some of the large number of responses I’ve received. As some of the responses come from government types who risk job suspension for commenting, I’ll stick to first names only.

Richard: “While I do not disagree with the main point of your commentary of Wednesday concerning police officers and speed, I do strongly disagree with both your and Sheriff Gillespie's assumptions. All the facts are not known. You stated that Officer Beitel was not on a call however we do not know why he was speeding in the northbound direction on Nellis. His previous call that had not yet been cleared was in the southbound direction on Nellis. It may very well be for all we know that Officer Beitel saw something suspicious in a vehicle heading northbound on Nellis and executed a U-turn to northbound Nellis and increased his speed to catch up to what he may have seen. His emergency lights not being activated is neither here nor there in that situation. He may have been just about to activate them. We will never know. Neither you nor Sheriff Gillespie nor I know what happened. My assumption is just as valid as yours. Officer Beitel's death was tragic. But to make an assumption that his death wasn't in the line of duty without knowing all the facts is unfair. “

Robert: “Despite having some law enforcement officers in and around Las Vegas complete what is commonly known as a “High Speed Pursuit” driver training program, most patrol officers are never taught the most basic of car control skills before spending most of their time in police cars. Officers actually spend more time learning how to use various weapons than they do learning how to properly use a car’s safety performance capabilities. That’s a shame considering how much time they spend behind the wheel and how few times they’ll ever be called on to use their guns.”

Kent: “I couldn't agree with you more. It's a preventable tragedy. Thank you for your comments.”

Stephen: “While it is a tragedy that these officers have been needlessly killed, remembering them as heroes does nothing to prevent further occurrences of these acts of blatant stupidity.

“Generally nobody wants to adopt or express an opinion regarding police officers since the vast majority of them are superlative human beings, doing work neither of us could imagine. However, every once in a while an idiot becomes a police officer. Remembering an idiot as a hero perpetuates stupidity; let’s not forget these deaths were 100% avoidable. We, as a society, need to learn something from these acts of blatant stupidity so that they can be prevented in the future.”

George: “Your article on cop Beitel and Chief Gillespie was spot accurate. When I first heard the news, I thought what if they discover they were hot-rodding, how will they address it? No heroics here, just public endangerment. That ceremony was out of place. Also no cop is going to get a ticket for not wearing a seat belt, from another cop. It's a club. Can I as a concerned citizens flag over a cop because I can see through the car window that there's no strap going across his left shoulder? I doubt it, even so they'd get it dismissed as a thank you reminder. Then on top of that the seat belt law is a secondary offense, I'd have to see the cop smoking pot or patting a hooker to cause a citizens arrest, or reportage to the top brass. Then would they disclose any disciplinary results if any? (No it's personnel matter.)“

Renee: ”For years I have read your column in the Review Journal and have repeatedly disregarded several statements and opinions you have shared that I have disagreed with.

“Today you have gone too far.

“Your assessment of Officer Beitel and Officer Manor’s deaths is completely out of line. You indicate in your article today that, “neither man’s death was heroic”. You obviously have no concept of what a hero is- and how could you as all you do is sit behind a computer every day passing judgment on others, sharing your absurd views and then arrogantly going home safely to your family knowing you can call 911 at any time if you are in a crisis. “When was the last time you personally jeopardized your own life to save someone else’s, or when have you run “head on” into a dangerous situation to de-escalate a violent criminal? How often do you walk into situations not knowing if the person you are confronting is going to pull a gun on you and take your life? Maybe you have experienced this, but your views in the article today indicate pretty clearly that you have never really faced danger head on.

“You make me ill. I am an officer’s wife, an officer’s daughter and hopefully soon to be an officer’s mother. How dare you insinuate the men and women that serve our community and every other community in the United States in a law enforcement capacity, who may make a mistake, and due to this error lose their life in the line of duty- not be considered a hero?

“Risk is something that we all deal with at some level in our lives every day. Most people go through life without realizing that one momentary decision could be the catalyst to end their life. Police officers take deliberate risks every day they go to work and put on their gun belt. Unfortunately speed is a necessary risk and part of the job that our officers have to assume daily as they protect our city. With the number of criminals, crimes in progress and calls for service that our police departments have to contend with verses the number of officers we have to address these issues, driving at a higher than normal rate of speed is an unfortunate risk while on the job. Each officer feels obligated to arrive to each call in a timely manner because our public expects it- and rightfully so as their job is to “serve and protect” our community.

“If you stop and look at what Officer Manor was doing while driving that night at an “excessive amount of speed”- he was on his way to save someone’s life who had called 911 indicating they were in danger. Granted he didn’t have his seat belt on but his motive was 100% correct and the hero he was showed he never paused to try to save that life. I would bet my last dollar that you too have driven without your seatbelt on at some point but fortunate for you your decision didn’t end your life.

“Regarding Officer Beitel who served selflessly in the Marines for four years and then six more years on Metro, how many lives did he save and positively impact during his time with the department and while serving our country? Oh and by the way…it’s his service to our country as well as the millions of other men and women that have served in our armed forces that allow you to utilize your First Amendment Right to voice your opinion. Newsflash: he too was a hero the night he passed away- faithfully hunting for criminals in hoping to make our city safer.

“I doubt that both officers ever realized that final day while they worked to provide safety for our community, that in making this momentary “error” in judgment regarding their seatbelts and level of speed that their lives would end because of it.

"Both men were beyond heroes in my book and millions of other people who realize the true sacrifice they made each day to protect us and they deserved EVERY minute of the “long procession of police motorcycles and roadblocks all the way to the graveyard”. I’m sorry for you that you are too simple a human being to appreciate the sacrifice that is made each minute these men and women protect our community.

“Due to you crossing the line this final time with your “UNBELIEVABLE out of line opinion”, I have called the Review Journal and cancelled my subscription and requested a refund. I hope that many people throughout our community will follow suit as I will not patronize an organization that uses my money to pay for employees like yourself.

“I plan to talk to everyone that will listen to me about YOUR ARTICLE AND LACK OF COMPASSION OR RESPECT FOR OUR OFFICERS and encourage as many people as possible to make a statement and also cancel their subscriptions.

“In this economy you can have it on YOUR head that YOU personally and YOUR “lively” commentary about “true hero’s” in our community have negatively impacted your employers bottom line by losing a faithful subscriber. Good for you- John--you truly are a hero!”