Show Letter to Policeman Tells Need for Police Brutality M Mrs bars LeAnn Kay wife of the Pa Pastor or of the Vallejo Church in San Antonio Texas wrote this letter to a policeman and member of the congregation congregation congre congre- gation gatlon after he had been accused of brutality in the arrest of narcotics ad ad- His Ills department published it In the March Issue of THE TILE BADGE and newspapers newspapers news news- papers from coast to coast have reprinted reprinted re reo printed it in hopes that it obtains wide reading And again the letter One of the most common phrases heard in our society and in our city today is police brutality and perhaps I do not understand the meaning I would like to give you one mothers mother's viewpoint on this subject TO BEGIN with I should first tell you that I have two teen-age teen sons and being a mother I cannot help but want the best of everything for them I am a atypical atypical atypical typical mother in that I do not want to see them hurt by anyone I am not a atypical atypical atypical typical mother for I see many things mothers never hear of much less become Involved in because my husband is a minister and we see the very best and the sordid worst I 1 would like you to be brutal with my sons Is that a surprise IF YOU find them speeding In a car please be brutal I have sat in a hospital holding a grieving mothers mother's hand because because be be- cause of someone's mistake and that was brutal I have gone with my husband to tell a wife her husband was killed and that was brutal I 1 have helped nurse a beautiful teen-age teen girl crippled In a wreck I have played organ music at funeral services for babies teen-agers teen and adults because someone drove too fast and that was brutal If you ever catch my under-age under sons with liquor in their possession please be brutal I have sat all night by my husbands husband's side trying to help piece together together to to- gether two under-age under young mens men's lives both broken by drinking I have listened listened lis lis- to the horrors experienced by another another an an- other man while he was drunk and heard him recall the many jails he has served time In for this and that was brutal I have helped feed hungry children because because be be- cause a father didn't come home and that was brutal I have tried to console console con con- sole a mother whose daughter was killed killed kill kill- ed after being struck by a drunken driver driver dri dri- ver that was brutal I IF F YOU should ever find my sons with drugs in their possession please be bru bru- tal I have tried to help rehabilitate a woman just out of prison for shooting her husband while she was drugged I have seen a handsome young man turned turned turn turn- ed into an old ugly one because of drugs I have seen a young mother who was addicted to drugs scream and rave from lack of a fix and that was brutal If you find my sons committing any kind of immoral act or carrying any pornographic material please be brutal I have listened to to the sad cry of a ayoung ayoung ayoung young girl who was pregnant but unmarried ried and that was brutal I have been present when a boy and girl broke the news to their parents they had to marry I have tried to comfort a mother whose beautiful daughter was criminally raped and that was brutal I IF F YOU ever see my sons taking something that isn't theirs or willingly destroying property please be brutal I have seen lovely expensive homes and yards completely torn up by vandals and I have wiped a young boys boy's tears and helped him hunt for a stolen bicycle and that was brutal If you should ever catch my sons doing anything illegal megal please be brutal I have come to realize that your kind of brutality cannot compare in any way with the brutality that comes with breaking our laws and if you must be brutal to remind them then please be brutal I do not want my two sons to grow into up grown-up boys I want them to become men able to assume their place In this world and make a good contribution to it I sincerely hope that they wont won't need your help but if they do and if you must please be brutal This letter and my personal feelings should not be construed as a vindication of any law enforcement of of- who exceeds his authority but because because be be- cause the word police brutality is often used over-used and many times overprinted overprinted over over- printed by those who know better and because this letter comes comes from the heart we are most happy to repeat it today Its It's really something to think about isn't it |