Dear Editor,

Several months ago you may recall a couple of newspaper articles regarding a crackdown on speeders on Highway 21 going through Rincon. Having commuted Highway 21 roundtrip between the northern city limit and the southern city limit every day during that time, I came to the conclusion that the crackdown was a farce.

There were a mere three times I observed an officer doling out a speeding ticket and just a few more times I even saw a Rincon patrol car on Highway 21. Weeks ago, it was reported that one of the many reasons for Chief Berry’s termination was dissent by officers, stating that Berry was forcing them to give out speeding tickets to increase revenue. I thought that is one of the things police were supposed to do when they weren’t responding to criminal activities; additionally, just hiring two officers to do nothing but traffic control on Highway 21 would in itself raise enough revenue to pay their salaries and give me and others like me peace of mind driving through Rincon. How many times have you been cut off by a speeding car or been pushed down the highway by that tractor-trailer right on your bumper?

Police officers are supposed to keep us safe on the roads and highways as well as keep us safe from criminal activities. The city of Rincon can afford to place three patrol cars, and yes three officers, on Lexington Ave. at lunchtime today, Dec. 1, to check drivers’ licenses and seat belt use, but they can’t get the traffic on Highway 21 under control. What a waste of taxpayer money.
 
Leland A. Sanders