Cop Out

Dear Dec,

Your column from the September 10 edition of The Declaration amazed me in that you criticized the Albermarle County police for performing their jobs.

Certainly, the issue of homosexuality is in itself very controversial and subject to debate. However, your article seemed to imply that the police are capricious and inconsistent in their application of the law. Your merely condemned the Albermarle County police for upholding statutes, which by law they are required to enforce.

The C-Ville Weekly reports from its September 8-14 issue that the sting operation led by police began not because of selective targeting of homosexuals by the police, but because park visitors constantly complained of seeing men engaged in sexual acts. As Albermarle Police Sergeant Ernie Allen explains, "Imagine families out strolling in the park on a nice day coming across something like this. You shouldn't have to worry about your kids seeing this sort of thing out there." To argue that the police were somehow biased against homosexuals is very presumptive and even appears flawed, because police became aware that the Ivy Creek Natural Area was a "cruising" spot for gay men through complaints by park visitors.

I also question many of the arguments you raise in your article. You claim that children watching MTV is similar to seeing gay men have sex. You also argue that society would be better served if the police enforced the speed limit of JPA rather than prevent public sexual acts. How you make such conclusions is beyond me. As I am sure you will notice when driving, the Charlottesville police do indeed monitor traffic on JPA. The police, despite your claims, are interested in upholding all state and local laws, not merely targeting homosexuals. Yet what is important is that the Albemarle County police have stated on record that no witch-hunt existed in this matter, and heterosexual couples engaging in similar behavior would be equally prosecuted under state law. For that, I think you should retract your claim that the police were biased in this sting operation.

The police, in this case, merely followed the law and did their job. Maybe you disagree with the common police practice of publishing in newspapers the names of the arrested individuals. Yet if you disagree with this situation, then argue that the law should be changed. In the meantime, do not criticize the police for performing their jobs well. As you know, it is their duty to enforce the law.

Sincerely,

Jonathan Carr

CLAS III