Witthaus Stands Behind Police Following Criticism

To the editor,

I’m writing in response to . It’s true. I think everyone in Kirkwood shares a strange cop story.

After Christmas in sixth grade, I was joyfully riding my brand new baby blue motor scooter around my cul-de-sac off Lockett Road. A Kirkwood police officer “pulled me over” and told me I couldn’t ride the scooter. Since it was motor-powered, I needed a license to operate the vehicle. I marched into my room and cried for over an hour.

Your letter includes incidents where cops may have gone too far. But let’s be clear here: our Kirkwood cops are incredible individuals. 

Our cops have been there when we needed them. Mrs. Jennings fails to remember February 2008, where Kirkwood cop Tom Ballman was fatally shot and killed at a city council meeting. Ballman heroically gave his life on his job as a Kirkwood cop.

It was Kirkwood cops who later took down shooter Charles Lee Thorton, who easily would have killed more people.

In January 2007, Kirkwood cops arrested Michael Devlin, a heinous child sex offender. Think about the further damage Devlin could have committed had Kirkwood cops not stopped him.

Outside of the big headlines, Kirkwood cops have kept our community safe on a day-to-day basis. As a resident of Kirkwood for over 18 years, I have always felt secure. No one has ever mugged me or hurt me. Sometimes, I’ll forget to lock my car, but my valuables have never been stolen.

Kirkwood’s fantastic police is the biggest reason why our community is safe! 

I think we all have our silly run-in stories with the Kirkwood police. However, our cops have kept us safe and protected, even giving their lives for us.

I’m very thankful for the cops in Kirkwood. I hope everyone will forgive them for their venial offenses that happen every once in awhile.

Thank you to Jack Witthaus for submitting this Letter to the Editor. To submit a Letter to the Editor, email owen.skoler@patch.com.