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Eentember 29. 1970
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<br />70-427 - The following letter frOm D. K. Hobday, 5805 Hawthorne Lane, was read:
<br />
<br /> "In recent years at least two Portsmoufh City policemen have been murdered; one by a maniac driving on
<br />Interstate #264 and one shot by a negro in the Dixie Restaurant. These incidents generated some excite-
<br />ment and a headline or two, in the local newspaper, but I don't recall any demonstrations or any prominent
<br />citizens of the city making any demands on public officials or the police department or the community.
<br />
<br /> Now, when a public servant's life is threatened and the lives of many other citizens are in danger of an
<br />irresponsible gunman, this public servant is ostracized for performing his job and going what someone had to
<br />do.
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<br /> In view of the above, and of demands and recent actions by some citizens to debase the personnel of the
<br />Portsmouth Police Department, I, as a resident and a taxpayer in the City of Po~tsmouth, hereby demand that
<br />the personnel 6f the Portsmouth Police Department, under the command of (]lief C. L. Warren, be allowed and
<br />required to protect citizens from criminals on the city streets, public and private property, and the rights
<br />of all citizens of the city, using whatever force that is deemed.necessary and without being denounced, de-
<br />graded, scorned or forced to bow to ridiculous and/or unrealistic demands of special interest groups."
<br />
<br />70-428 - The following letter from Herman C. Williams, Jr. was read:
<br />
<br /> ,'The residents of Mayflower Park are concerned with the drainage problems along the streets 6f their
<br />neighborhood.
<br />
<br />Water frequently stands in the drainage ditches and in other locations along the streets.
<br />
<br />Parking cars often produce ruts in the soft shoulders especially after rains.
<br />
<br /> The uneven edges of the hard surfaced portions of the heavily traveled streets are unpleasing to the
<br />eye.
<br />
<br />The grass in the drainage ditches is difficultto maintain.
<br />
<br />Two photographs have been enclosed to show examoles of the conditions.
<br />
<br /> In view of this; the inclosed petition, containing 124 signatures, respectively requests the installation
<br />of curbs and gutters in Mayflower Park at the earliest practical date."
<br />
<br />On motion of Mr. Turner, referred to the City Manager, without dissenting vote.
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<br />70-42~ - The following petition .signed by N, etlie Beasley and others, was read:
<br />
<br /> "We, the undersigned law abiding citizens, and taxpayers of Portsmouth, Va. commend our entire Police
<br />Denartment in their efforts to maintain law and order .in Portsmouth in these trying times.
<br />
<br /> We are of the opinion that no Police Officer should be prejudged or suspended until ALL GF. THB FACTS are
<br />in and under oath, then and only then IF found guilty should charges be brought against any Police Officer.
<br />
<br /> Our Police Officers must and should take whatever steps deemed necessary to protect themselves, the
<br />citizens, the citizens property and city prnperty at all times."
<br />
<br />70-430 - The following letteM,frOm:?~eonard L. Sulliyan was read:
<br />
<br /> "It is my wish that you and the other members of the council be made aware of the feelings of an average
<br />citizen concerning the recent demonstrations against %he police department, and against Mr. Ennis in particular.
<br />I consider myself an average citizen, have an average job and family, and live in an average middle-class
<br />neighborhood.
<br />
<br /> It has always been my belief that the great majority of the people desire peace and harmony with their
<br />fellow citizens. Only a small, but unfortunately noisy, group is in favor of constant strife and turmoil.
<br />They are supported at times by another small group which I will charitaily refer to as misguided..
<br />
<br /> In this present world as exemplified by Portsmouth, and many, many other towns and cities in the United
<br />States, there is a very thin line of people who stand between the world of peace and harmony, and a world of
<br />strife and turmoil. These men are called police officers. This group came into being over a period of many
<br />centuries, and they exist because it has been shown that society as we~know it in the twentieth century exist
<br />without them.
<br />
<br /> With the fall of the Roman Empire, and the end of the police power of the Roman Legions, lawlessness
<br />spread across all of Europe, North Africa, and what we tod~M call the Middle East. For nearly a thousand
<br />years men were only as safe as the arms they carried, the armed men we rode with them, or the fortress like
<br />homes and cities they built. The cities, though walled, were unsafe after dark. Indeed they were not even
<br />safe in the daylight. The wealthy hired guards and torch bearers to light the way and defend them from those
<br />who would take a human life for less than the value of a present day dollar. During that time the only
<br />organization that preserved the teachings and writing of the ancients was the church, It is ironic that some
<br />people from that organization are today decrying the use of the police department. Without the police depart-
<br />ment, a church cannot exist.
<br />
<br /> Men have spent centuries seeking better ways to work and live togerther in peace. Literally milliDns of
<br />man hours of thought and research have gone into evolving the laws which rule our present society. Despite
<br />those who seek to twist and pervert the laws, the la~s do make this place a better place to live.
<br />
<br /> Is all this civilization, all the seeking and striving to ~o do~m the drain because of a few misguided
<br />souls weeping crocodile tears because a police officer stopped a common hoodlum from taking pot shots at in-
<br />nocent people? Can't they possibly see that if he gets away with it today, that tomorrow they may be the tar-
<br />gets?
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