Smearing a good man and cop

Massapequa, L.I.: Not only did the Daily News cross the journalists’ line; you jumped over it (“Sex crimes boss gave cash to ‘pu$$y grabber,’ ” April 3). NYPD Chief Michael Osgood, commanding officer of both the Hate Crime Task Force and the Special Victims Division, has placed both critical citywide units in a procedurally advanced place with the utmost compassion, and care for the people of this fragile city.

The News could not have been further from the truth when it participated in the attempted character smearing of Osgood, who takes great care of the people he works in tandem with compassion and fairness. His ethics and integrity are sound. His reputation and decades of service to this city will attest to that.

Attacks from The News, the national president of NOW, the unnamed chief and other sources merely piled on, seeking to tear down the reputation of a good man.

It was an absolute pleasure and a privilege to have worked with and for Chief Michael Osgood. Detective Maria Magnus-Melendez, ret.

Fire I

Mohegan Lake, N.Y.: Leave it to the Daily Rag, I mean News, to find something negative about President Trump after a tragic fire (“Trump called him a ‘crazy Jew’ ’’ April 9, front page). Your headlines leave a lot to be desired.

Arthur Hastings

Fire II

Brentwood, L.I.: Who is telling the truth? I can understand that the Daily News hates Donald Trump. That is your right. But do you have to lie when it comes to anything relating to him? Everything I have seen on TV or have read in the papers states that Todd Brassner, who lived in Trump Tower, died in the hospital. The article in Monday’s paper states that he died in his apartment that he hated. Go ahead and hate Trump, but please tell the truth. W. J. Van Sickle

Fire III

Floral Park: While I feel bad that Diana Baez and her two children were injured in the fire in her NYCHA apartment from her defective stove, maybe their injuries could have been avoided if she had not waited for the city to purchase her a working smoke alarm and purchased one for herself instead of spending all that money on that large tattoo on her arm. Margaret Stein Woodside: To Voicer Diane Hombach: I read about Philando Castile. I think you didn’t. He was told numerous times not to go for his gun after he told the officer he had a weapon, but he did and was shot and it was justified according to the courts. So, nice try. Also, blacks are 13% of the population but commit a disproportionate share of murders. You fail to mention that. There are 160 million whites in the country; most obey the law. Yet more are killed by cops than blacks even though blacks commit way more crimes. Maybe you need to do more research, not me.

Thomas Lehnert

Not a rerun

Manhattan: I think the new “Roseanne” is nothing more than a cynical retread of a once brilliant show. These “new” Conners continue to live a life on the economic edge, with the second generation now facing the same lousy forecast, so perhaps they are a valid reflection of entrenched poverty. However, the truth is that in this new version the Conners are being mocked: for not knowing the names of clothing designers, for selling their shelflife fertility. We are asked to laugh at their naïveté and then castigated for laughing. Perhaps these are the folks who bet on Donald Trump but they are not the winners. They’ve not seen an upside. The Trump-winners would be seen in a show about venal selfservers who happily cast all morals aside to load their own plates and line their own pockets. Any network want to serialize that gang? The new “Roseanne” seems to reek only of desperation. It’s sad and getting sadder. And by the way, where did Dan Conner stash his gun? One of the grandkids could find it, and that’s really not funny. Charline Spektor Forest Hills: Linda Stasi has it all wrong criticizing the critics of “Roseanne” as being intolerant hypocrites. That’s me she’s writing about, but that’s not me. If Roseanne were a new character, like Archie Bunker once was, her support for the hateful Trump would’ve been acceptable. But Roseanne is a rebooted character, and having watched the first episode of the original series, the absurd last episode, and every episode in between, Roseanne was at the time a decent, smart, caring character. Now she’s just an extension of the wealthy and damaged Roseanne Barr, and her character is a betrayal. Watch all you want, Linda, I am no longer a fan. As Trump would say, sad.

Pietro Allar

Weak batting

Glendale, Ariz.: The way things are going, early on, Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton will be lucky to hit 50 homers total.

Mel Johansen

A better way to ride

Manhattan: Re “Give all the Zeldas a break” (editorial, April 8) about the problems with Access-A-Ride: The city overpays for this service. A much better idea and one that would help the green cabs as well as reputable black car services, such as New Family, would to be allow AccessA-Ride users to call the car services directly using a voucher provided by the city. Expand the cabs that can hold wheelchairs.

Batya Lewton

Getting a grip on Rikers

Wantagh, L.I.: Re Alisa Roth’s April 8 Op-Ed “Shutter Island”: This is a very useful article. It is a shame that the mental health profession does not embrace the large mental health crisis in New York. I’ve personally observed the tragedy of the mentally ill being held in the criminal justice system. Rikers Island, I observed, after working there for 28 years, is a rubbish pail for society’s “throwaways,” that is, people with such problems who must be removed from society. The mentally ill do not belong in the jail system much as a cunning criminal belongs in a psychiatric hospital. The courts and the mental health system tell us all the time what is wrong with the uniformed forces and jails. Jails are made for criminals, not for handling mental health work. I think it is time that these two major forces in New York take on the responsibilities they have been charged with. John Murphy

Giving beasts a bad name

Tappan, N.Y.: Once again President Trump has called someone who he has accused of committing an evil act an “animal.” Animals do not commit the horrible actions that humans commit. Trump should not disparage innocent animals by comparing them to those human beings who are responsible for these horrific events.

Daniel Lapidus

Open up on cops

Manhattan: I just wanted to point out that these NYPD neighborhood community policing commercials about bringing the community together are a tremendous waste of tax dollars. Why would the public trust any police officer when the public can’t get access to disciplinary records when they are involved in a criminal or civil case? The law, section 50-a of the state’s civilrights JEFFERSON SIEGEL/DAILY NEWS code, protects officers’ personnel records from public release, or from being cited in court, without judicial approval. Those records include instances in which an officer has been disciplined, meaning that in New York State, an officer’s wrongdoing on the job is shielded from public view by law. Until this law is changed, the scales of justice will be tipped in police officers’ favor, hiding their corruption and enhancing their egos as well. The public will never trust this blue wall until lawmakers eliminate section 50-a of the state’s civilrights code. Fareed Sari

Savage fighter

Yonkers: Conor McGregor certainly lived up to his nickname “The Notorious” with his recent mayhem. The only thing missing was the cage. He would not be out of place in a cell either, with perhaps a few of his buddies to keep him company. Frank Brady

Other side of the ledger

Valley Stream, L.I.: To Voicer Joan Tully: If you are calling those who don’t appreciate the Daily News the supposed “Moral Majority,” then you are accepting that you are the Amoral Minority? Richard Goldstein

Two thumbs up

Bayside: I wanted to thank you for the free tickets to “This One’s for the Girls.” My daughter and I had a wonderful Saturday! The show was terrific and all four stars were great! It made my daughter’s birthday very special. Pat Coulaz