Don’t blame deputies, blame plea bargaining lawyers

I knew this would continue; it always does when certain people try to blame the police and accuse them of not doing their jobs. [“A drifter with a long criminal history showed up to pound on a disabled man’s door,” Dec. 19] Being that so many others are giving their opinion on why the sheriff’s deputies set up a perimeter and did not approach the suspect, Timothy Johnson, I will stick my two cents into this subject, being also a 37-year law enforcement retiree.

First of all, we all know what happens nowadays when a police officer, white or Black, kills or shoots a person of color. No need to explain further on that. Second, the complainant (victim Bill Norkunas) stated in his 911 call that he had a weapon but never shot anyone before. OK, Bill, you never shot anyone before, but you better have the mentality to shoot if your mind says you might be killed and you are scared of that happening. If you do not have that in you, then get rid of your gun.

Here is the final thought. Blame the courts and blame the prosecutors where they made deals and this hardened criminal got out of prison and returns to our Florida. Now, he is out on bail again and the police cannot find him. There is the blame, not the responding deputies, and don’t listen to all the Monday morning quarterbacks like retired or fired or dismissed ex-Broward County Sheriff’s Office personnel. This time, Sheriff Tony is correct in backing his men. There were no riots, no funerals, no lawsuits, no deaths, and no deputies fired or sued.

Harold Brown, Delray Beach