Officer Odom does good job for Bluffton Police Department | Letters
The article on Bluffton Police Department officer Baker Odom in The Island Packet on Jan. 9 was deeply disturbing. I was appalled at the virulence with which you smeared a Bluffton officer for going beyond the call of duty. This type of inflammatory journalism has led to lack of respect for America’s policemen and the breakdown of law, order and civil decency in America.
Officers should be commended, not castigated, for going the extra mile. Surely, these incidents would not have occurred had the offenders simply stopped when flagged and politely explained their situation or accepted their punishment.
No policeman knows what he will face when pulling over a vehicle. Potentially, his own life may be endangered; and, rather than causing a collision, he may be preventing a collision that will take innocent lives.
Anecdotally, officer Odom blue-lighted me last year. I was clearly wrong, driving late at night, no doubt weaving. I was not under any influence, just tired and needing my medication. When he flashed his lights, I did not try to outrun him, nor did I curse him out. I politely produced the documents he asked for and explained that I was in need of medication in my glove compartment. He assisted me in securing the medication, waited until they took effect and offered to follow me home to ensure my safe arrival.
At all times, he was courteous and respectful. Perhaps I should have written a letter at the time, but it is unlikely that you would have published it.
Robert Foley
Hilton Head Island
Public speaker Skip Hoagland ruins meeting
I was recently asked to attend a Beaufort County Council meeting to be congratulated for accepting another term as a member of the Keep Beaufort County Beautiful board.
It was a simple affair – council members applaud people who are willing to serve, I was honored to be there ... then Skip Hoagland jumped up and started screaming at everyone. He then rushed up to the microphone and began ranting. The guy ruined the entire meeting.
He accused members of the council of stealing millions of dollars and stated they all should be led out in handcuffs. His loud display of frankly nothing (it didn’t even make much sense) made everyone in the room quiver.
Beaufort is a great county, and I have respect for the council members who work hard to make it even better. I believe that everyone has a right to disagree, but my understanding is that this guy does this at different meetings all over the county. I personally believe that this behavior should stop.
Christopher Campbell
Sheldon
Truth should not be a partisan issue
In the latest Quinnipiac poll, 66 percent of those surveyed want John Bolton, President Donald Trump’s former National Security Advisor, to testify in the Senate impeachment trial. That includes 39 percent of Republicans, 71 percent of independents and 91 percent of Democrats.
A strong majority of Americans want a fair impeachment trial, not a partisan cover-up.
If you also believe in learning the truth, then contact U.S. Sens. Tim Scott and Lindsey Graham and demand that they vote to allow witnesses and subpoenaed documents into the proceedings. Just a sentence or two can tell them how you feel.
Truth should not be a partisan issue. We all need to hear what happened from the people closest to it. We owe it to our country to remind our representatives to do what’s right and fair.
Jeffrey Ernico
Hilton Head Island
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