My letter is in reference to the fine men in blue who are being found guilty by the both the liberal media and others before a final investigative process.

Believe me, there is no way that these officers just decided to stop Jordan Miles ("CAPA Student Claims City Police Beat Him," Jan. 22) because he is black. That assumption by any sane person would be ludicrous at best. Now come all the scurrilous statements against the officers -- Richard Ewing, Michael Saldutte and David Sisak -- who were working undercover on Jan. 12 when they arrested Mr. Miles, 18, in Homewood. The student at the city's High School for Creative and Performing Arts said the officers brutally beat him as he walked on Tioga Street to his grandmother's house.

Jordan Miles should have just obeyed the orders of the officers to stop, and this story would have had a different outcome.

I have been in the criminal justice system as a correctional officer for over 28 years, and believe me when I say that the system has always been on the side of the bad guy. Why, you ask? Basically, because it is politically expedient! Where is justice for the good guy?

All I ask, regarding public opinion, is to use basic common sense when it comes to this type of alleged attack by three law enforcement officers.

ISTVAN BALOGH
South Park
The writer is a major (retired), Allegheny County Bureau of Correction.

Apology confusion

In response to the letter from Mark and Lynelle DeNapoli ("Apologize to Police," Feb. 8): As my kids would say, "Really?"

Do the DeNapolis really believe the three officers who are accused of assaulting Jordan Miles were "risking their lives ensuring our safety"? I certainly do not feel "safe" because these three officers appear to have brutally beaten an unarmed student whose only crime is apparently walking on a street in Homewood.

I think the DeNapolis are confused as to just who is owed an apology.

MARY ANN MAVRODIS-McKENNA
Friendship

About the police stop

In the Feb. 10 letter "Reasonable Suspicion Is Enough for a Stop," Michael Havens indicates that Terry v. Ohio allows the police to stop and detain individuals based on reasonable suspicion.

However, Mr. Havens left out that this suspicion must be based on "specific and articulable facts," not merely an officer's hunch. Furthermore, the court assessed the reasonableness of the police activity here by comparing it to activity that would ordinarily require a warrant.

Unfortunately for the three officers involved in the Jordan Miles case, the current reported evidence of a bulge in a coat does not rise to this level.

PAUL SCHERRAH
Cheswick

Deserving doctor

I would like to comment on the article about Jack Demos, in the Feb. 5 Magazine section, about his volunteer work and helping disadvantaged children ("Plastic Surgeon Helps Children Throughout World"). In 1991 when I was attacked by a Rottweiler, Dr. Demos and his partner at the time performed numerous surgeries on my leg. Without them I would not have a leg.

The work he does is unbelievable, and I owe my leg to his skills as a surgeon. As I still need more surgeries, I wish I didn't have to find another doctor. He is the best and I will miss him as my doctor in the future. The people he is helping are very lucky to have his skills.

Thank you, Dr. Demos. You are so deserving of a Jefferson Award.

ELIZABETH MEISLIN-EINLOTH
Brookline

A lucrative duty

We hear so much about the snow removal on the roads. What about the sidewalks? Did anyone try to walk along Murray Avenue in Squirrel Hill last week?

I heard that the parking authority ticketers weren't working last week. The parking authority should've had them traverse the business districts, to fine business owners and landlords who didn't clear the sidewalks.

The city could collect much more revenue than from parking meters.

BOB REGAN
Greenfield

Point Park's bad call

Regarding "Point Park Children's School Closing After 40 Years" (Feb. 5): Greater Pittsburgh has a right to be disappointed in Point Park University's decision to close its three-star, National Association for the Education of Young Children-accredited children's school. In a time when the Pittsburgh community and political leaders talk about Downtown one day becoming a thriving residential community again, this academic leader has forsaken an elite early childhood education program that has been part of its mission for more than 40 years for a business model concept known as "core function."

If Point Park were committed to serving its community as a nonprofit, and preserving this school, it would have found a suitable partner to sustain and operate the school prior to announcing its closing, prior to parents having to seek new options for the education and welfare of their children, prior to staff having to pursue new job opportunities.

Instead, its self-concerned leaders put the baby in a basket and left it on Pittsburgh's front step.

BRIAN and SHEILA BELL
Churchill
The writers have two children who have attended the children's school.

Honors for military

It is indeed sad to see police officers killed by nuts in the line of duty. What I wonder is why don't our military people who are killed in the line of duty get the same publicity and fund drives as our police officers do.

I don't see parks or streets named for our military. Surely they also deserve the same.

DAN STEPNICK
Hampton

Rock on, NFL

While I admit that The Who's Super Bowl show was less than classic and probably not on par with past acts like The Boss, Tom Petty and the Stones, who's to blame CBS and the National Football League for endorsing these fossils for halftime entertainment?

The Feb. 10 editorial on "Geezer Rock" made some points, but missed the mark. Songs including "Baba O'Riley," "Who Are You" and "Won't Get Fooled Again" were the perfect promo for CBS's CSI trilogy (smart marketing, don'tcha think?). As for Beyonce in 2011 -- think again, people. The conservative NFL has learned its lesson. More likely next year is more of the same.

Don't bet against seeing next year's Super Bowl featuring the Steelers and The Eagles (and not those birds from Philly). Rock is dead? Long live rock!

MARK WEBER
Whitehall

The 'Promise' is helping to close the gap

I completely agree with Penn State Professor James Stewart on the need to accelerate closing the student achievement gap in Pittsburgh city schools ("Let's Stop Walking in Circles," Feb. 1 Perspectives). Closing this gap is a top priority for all of our children and for the well-being of our entire community. We are pleased by the district's progress and that all of our students now have the real prospect to continue their education after high school through the support of the Pittsburgh Promise.

It is no coincidence that the district's many education reform programs are achieving impact as the Promise gains significant traction in our community. In fact, the Promise is a great leveler as our community strives to provide equal opportunity for students. Of the scholarships we provided at the end of 2009, nearly 40 percent were for African-American students, 15 percent of whom are males and 25 percent are females.

The Promise is also intended to be an economic stimulus for the city and our region, helping to stem population declines from Pittsburgh and to play a vital role in re-energizing business development. It seeks to encourage families of all ethnicities to remain in Pittsburgh or to move here, which, in turn, provides the basis for a stable, sustainable and better-educated work force on which businesses depend for long-term growth and prosperity.

Closing the achievement gap has been a problem for decades, and there must continue to be a long-term focus and commitment for change. We have initial evidence that current reform initiatives, combined with the Promise, are doing more to advance the cause of closing this achievement gap. We will not be distracted from this focus nor believe that these initiatives -- so vital to the future prosperity of our region -- are simply "walking in circles."

SALEEM GHUBRIL
Executive Director
The Pittsburgh Promise
Hill District

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