In “All have right to free speech” (Aug. 21, TribLive), the author makes some leaps and assumptions that wholly prove the exact point made originally. Let’s discuss:

1. Putting on a uniform and a sidearm absolutely does not mean that an officer sets aside his or her political leanings and world perspective. Our police system is one of least racially diverse nationally, which does not reflect our populace.

2. Assuming officers using social media are doing so on their own time and using their own devices. Just because someone posted something racist at 9:30 p.m. doesn’t mean it didn’t come to them while they were on duty.

3. Every citizen has the right to their opinions and to express their beliefs; however, nobody has the right to do so without consequence. The consequence for being publicly racist should not include a taxpayer-funded salary. The public has a right to know who is shouting what and what roles they’ve been assigned in the community.

4. An opinion article is a threat? Last I checked, I asked my opinion to be published (“Hate-filled letters by law enforcement alarming,” Aug. 14, TribLive). You have a right to disagree, and I have a right to disagree right back. Who was threatened with anything more than an investigation and, realistically, at most, a potential sensitivity training?

We absolutely need better policing in Allegheny County. And it will start when we hold our society and those at the top of it to a higher standard than what we currently do.

Billy King

Dormont

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