Dorothy E. Bertles: If police are obeyed, then lives won’t be lost

Has anyone questioned the whys of protests in the name of “Black Lives Matter”? Don’t all lives matter?

Where was the protest when a black motorist killed a white officer who pulled him over? Or the outrage when an officer asks for an ID or tells a suspect to stop, raise their hands, etc., and their orders are ignored?

Everyone should be taught that if you disobey the officers’ orders, you can be seen as combative and treated accordingly. You cannot claim “what a great kid he was” when he shows gang signs, robs a drug store and, when caught, attacks the officer.

You cannot fault an officer for shooting an “unarmed” suspect who points a gun at him or her. He cannot know if it is loaded or a toy, nor can that officer know the mental health of someone he is facing. The officer has less than a split-second to determine what to do and act; any hesitation can result in the death of the peace officer.

I am outraged that, in the guise of “protest,” certain people have used this excuse to loot and destroy other persons’ property.

This story was originally published August 27, 2015 at 2:37 PM with the headline "Dorothy E. Bertles: If police are obeyed, then lives won’t be lost."