Tragedy offers opportunity to evaluate police procedure

To the bditor:

I am responding to the OeWWeU Ey -Rhn 5. HLFNey ,,, regarding Michael Marino. I would like to take an opporWunLWy WR WhDnN MU. HLFNey for showing concern about issues in his community. Taking the time to voice an opinion, regardless of which side of the issue you may be on, is something I think more citizens should take part in.

, DP VuUe MU. HLFNey would agree, as he is a former council member, in most cases an issue is not pulled to the forefront of scrutiny until a problem or incident occurs. In this case, the incident was the tragic shooting of a young man that had, on that day at least, committed no crime, had no weapon and, as an DuWRSVy FRnfiUPeG, wDV securely handcuffed at the time of death. This incident provides the opportunity to take a close look at current policies, procedures and training and make appropriate improvements to ensure the safety of both the RIfiFeU DnG Whe FLWLzen WhDW is being confronted.

Although the district attorney did rule the shooting DV MuVWLfieG, he DOVR VWDWeG that there were several mistakes in procedure that occurred that day. Also, it has been noted that a free training program on how to deal with those who suffer from mental illness has Eeen DYDLODEOe WR DOO BuFNV CRunWy RIfiFeUV VLnFe 2009. AW WhLV WLPe, nR RIfiFeU from Perkasie has attended this training course. Therefore there is room for great improvement to be made and implemented moving forward from this incident. aoing so can only promote better policing, which I beOLeYe wRuOG Ee D EenefiW WR the community.

In regard to comments made about my son, I fully agree that he had done wrong when he was youngeU. HLV PLVWDNeV weUe WhDW RI childish and immature mind that was learning to grow. He hDV SDLG Whe SULFe IRU those mistakes and has done hLV SunLVhPenW IRU WheP. He wLOO Ee 20 yeDUV ROG Ln MuVW a few weeks and has had no problems with the police in Whe SDVW WwR yeDUV. He hDV learned from every mistake he has made and is trying to better himself through eduFDWLRn. He LV FuUUenWOy wRUNing very hard to obtain the training he needs to become a welder.

Young people make mistakes. They are only human and I would hope that within a small community such as ours with a church on just about every street corner in the center of town, people would understand the word “forgiveness” and allow my son the chance to grow into the decent young man that I see him working so hard to become.

Rebecca Miletic Administrator, Michael Marino’s Army for Justice and Reform