Duin ignorant about police

from The Oregonian

As a police officer in Portland, one of the most difficult experiences I regularly expose myself to is reading Steve Duin's columns. Virtually every sentence he writes concerning law enforcement shrieks with his uniquely buffoonish style of ignorance.

Seldom, however, does he expose his lack of understanding as eloquently as near the end of Tuesday's thinly veiled stab at police ("Staying cool when the heat is on"), when he contrasts his magnanimous approval of Rob Wullbrandt's decision to not return fire against his assailant with what other police officers may think.

It is profoundly difficult for me to imagine any police officer questioning that decision, and I certainly haven't heard any [second-guessing] within the bureau. Duin's implication that there are officers in the bureau who think that Wullbrandt should have fired appears based on nothing more than his prejudice.

Every cop realizes that some day, he or she will be faced with a life-or-death decision based on little information and affected by physical, emotional and mental stresses. Their performance in that crucible may end up defining (or even ending) the lives of many, including themselves.

Duin's vantage point on the split second in which Wullbrandt decided not to fire back encompasses the greater context of Portland police, violence and Kendra James. The police officer's view of the same situation is both much narrower in scope and infinitely deeper in complexity.

JOSEPH SHARPE
Officer, Portland Police Bureau
North Precinct
North Portland