Letter: Responding to letter on McLeod

Dear Editor:

I’m writing in response to A.J. Haflich’s letter to the editor regarding officer Bob McLeod of the Troy Police Department (“Not behind rallying cry for police officer,” Dec. 4, page 4).

Although I’m not a Troy resident and am only an occasional visitor to your beautiful county, I don’t really have a dog in this fight, but I couldn’t help but speak my mind and respond to this letter. First off, I want to say that I appreciate your input and encouragement for citizen involvement and standing up for your constitution. It is everyone’s responsibility to be involved in your local, state and federal government, including the actions of your local police department.

That said, I wonder why you criticize the residents of Troy for exercising their constitutional rights to assemble, voice their opinion and weigh in on a public process that included members of the city, county and state government, not to mention at least one member of the local business community. I say let them march in support of their officer and exercise their rights to assemble and free speech.

In regards to the particular incident that led to this public demonstration regarding Officer McLeod, I’d like to tackle just a few points and give you something to think about. The first point … it is not a constitutional right to operate a motor vehicle and furthermore it is not a constitutional right to operate one mentally or physically impaired by the effects of alcohol or drugs.

Second … nowhere in the constitution does it entitle someone the right under free speech to kick, punch, bite or any other physical act of violence toward anyone, let alone a peace officer attempting to arrest a subject in order to maintain the safety of the public.

If you can find it, I would be extremely interested in reading that article.

Rick Lee

Missoula