Letters to the editor

Good police candidates more critical than training

Re: “Is state’s police training enough?” (Page A1, Aug. 9):

While training is important, more so is selecting the correct candidates to receive that training.

The current battery of psychological tests do not seem to be working to weed out those who will become “thugs with badges.” The claim is there are only a few among all the good ones. It’s obviously more than just a few; and the departments have been loath to even try weeding them out.

Why not do a better job before you even hire them?

— Bruce Onken,

Fremont

Evergreen’s leadership has instructors ready

As early as May 10, Byron Breland, the chancellor of the San Jose-Evergreen Community College District, announced that 2020 fall classes were going to be online. As a math instructor at Evergreen Valley College, the move made perfect sense to me. The virus was not going away, and it would be impossible to socially distance my packed classes in which all chairs are often occupied.

This leadership enabled me and my colleagues at the college to take the much needed time to prepare for the challenges of online learning. To ensure exceptional service for our students, the college has also required the instructional staff to complete a three-week course so that we are proficient in the best techniques of online instruction.

I am proud to say that because of the leadership at my college, I am not only prepared but excited to start online with my students this fall.

— Lisa Jackson, Evergreen Valley College, San Jose

‘Real patriotism’ will help beat coronavirus

What happened to the real patriotism that has always existed in this country during times of crisis?

Those of us who grew up in the 1940s during World War II remember how we accepted gasoline and food rationing without protesting. We knew we had to build tanks instead of cars, that men had to go to war, and women had to work in shipyards.

But now, in conditions equally as threatening, there is no end to complaints when we are asked to wear face masks and stay out of crowded places. These are indeed, as Thomas Paine said, “Times that try men’s souls.” Let’s hope that the “sunshine soldiers and summer patriots” come to realize the urgency of our present crisis.

— Jack Hasling, Cupertino

DA’s death penalty call deserves county support

Re: “Exclusive: Santa Clara County DA abandoning death penalty pursuit in all cases” (Mercurynews.com, July 21):

It has upset some people who believe convicted murderers should be removed from this world. But, the appeals and delays drag on for months and years and we citizens are paying for all this activity.

Santa Clara County District Attorney Jeff Rosen is keenly aware of the waste of his department’s time and money. We should support him and spend the money on worthwhile tasks.

— Allan MacLaren, San Jose

Trump’s election intent should be clear to all

Donald Trump talking about executive orders affecting the U.S. Postal Service delivery of ballots, or how ballots are counted, is him being completely honest about his intent to steal the 2020 election.

There is plenty of evidence he was complicit in schemes to illegally aid his 2016 campaign, for which he has faced no sanction; even his impeachment on corruption led to no meaningful sanction from his corrupt party.

Many were confident Trump would lose in 2016; the polls look even worse for him in 2020, but his ability to wreak electoral havoc is far greater as an incumbent with his lackeys in the Senate and throughout government — his very own “deep state” swamp he has built while in office.

America, are we prepared to talk about the worst-case scenario honestly, the actual death of our democratic republic through grift and corruption? Beware Donald Trump.

— Mathew Clark,

Campbell