Show Voice of f the People Salt Laker Blasts Police Role in New Year Riot Editor Telegram At midnight midnight midnight mid mid- night of oC New Years rears Eye Eve the police department Lake City reached the nadir of public public public pub pub- lic disgrace Our party of six six six- aged middle citizens residents this of city stood city stood on the corner of 2nd South and Main and witnessed wit wit- a revolting spectacle le leVe We Ve saw approximately hoodlums ranging hoodlums ranging from about age 10 to 40 take 40 take over that part of ot the city ity in unimpeded violence and destruction We sav them seize and kiss protesting protesting pro pro- testing gi- gi girls girls' gian an arid and 1 in one Orte Insa instance tear the girls girl's dress drew from her J and ru run down the street with ith it We Ve saw sai on one dm woi woman woman- n who vho attempted to assist her battered battered bat bat- husband struck in the face and nd knocked to the pavement by bya a a burly youngster We saw private cars a arid and d taxis halted Inthe in inthe inthe the street the air let out of the tires Ures the sides and windows kicked in and antennas doors and bumpers ripped from the bodies Even public buses were not immune windshield wipers m or any movable part that could be bc reached was twist twisted d dand and torn away We Wc saw Innocent innocent inno inno- cent cerit bystanders seized their arms pinned behind them while other ruffians ah beat their f faces c s sto to a bloody pulp T The ie astounding astounding astound astound- ing feature of ot th this s particular exhibition was that the gang leaders would voul rush from such an attack back into the throng and hold their arms erect in a stiff salute or or signal until they were joined by other members giving the same kind of signal or salute then rush elsewhere for a fresh victim We Ve saw one car briefly the center of of commotion commotion com corn motion then go careening around the corner the door flying open and shut under the clutches lutches of several everal pursuing youngsters Later we met the occupants of the car car car-a a young wife and husband hus bus band band band-at at the police station The wife had been beaten on the arm by one of the attackers wielding a bottle The Telegram invites In letters from readers on 05 subjects of general Interest t. t L Letters Dt ct t e r s 8 should be short and ami preferably typewritten Readers must sign their correct name and address but If It requested an assumed name or initials only be published Send yourl your l letters to The Editor Salt Lake Telegram Lett Letters rj will willbo bo published or or rejected at the discretion n of the editor No contributions c can n b bo be returned Unless a st stamped l ped self ad add ad- ad d dressed ls l t First we we w watched curiously then in horror and disgust things occur unhampered unhampered unhampered and Y with Impunity impunity In the business d district of Salt take Lake City Where were the police we we a ask asked a k e ed d with growing gr wing anxiety 7 l' l In vain yain we looked for fort t them em expecting momentarily to hear sirens screaming- screaming and see squad cars loaded with policemen police police- policemen policemen men descend upon the tumult But in vain we waited After 30 minutes nih tes nauseated nauseated and disgusted disgust disgust- ed we hurried away to the station station sta eta tion to find the police We found them sec secure r in their citadel be besieged besieged besieged be- be by bya a host of ot Indignant citizens who had suffered at th the hands of ot the mob They were demanding protection We We added our ur voices to the the outrages Iw we Had lad wit wit- T To our amazement and disgust th the police would not budge No NC they said sald what hat I Ican can we do with the people mob people who dont don't wan t to be I shouldn't be there The police admitted that they knew of the theriot theriot theriot riot but refused to th accept any responsibility Exasperated ed beyond beyond be be- yond control some of the victims vic vic- vic vic- tims time called the police to their faces cowards This sort of importunity reached such sucha a crescendo that four of the poor fellows fellow 1 armed with tear teargas teargas teargas gas weapons after many nostalgic nos non glances to the rear departed departed departed de de- de- de parted t to th the scene of ot havoc Yes you yoi guessed essed i it dear readers reader when they the arrived I I t followed them the crowd cow l ha had l dispersed Our citizens cannot be expected expect expect- ed to respect and sustain an organization of law enforcement so ineffectual and pusillanimous I I. I for tor one am am am- completely disillusioned 1 I echo the comment frequently heard that tha night Is this the kind of protection that we are to ex expect expect expect ex- ex from a police department 1 What would happen in a major crisis What is wrong with the police department 7 Is it a lack of leadership courage or concern concern concern con con- cern for Cor civic responsibility It ItIs ItIs Itis Is my hope and expectation that this thi matter ter Wilt Vii not be Ignored without an Investigation by the heads of the city government who are responsible for the well well- being of our city F. F H. H GREENE 1997 Lincoln St. St Salt Lake C City y S |