I recently sent a letter to the Georgetown Times and it was printed. (It was the first time I sent a letter to the editor!) It tells about a Georgetown County Sheriff deputy (Cattrano) that ignored the rules of the road and common decency and pursued instead the adrenaline laden world of madness that many irresponsible law enforcement officers engage in as they are "responding to a call." I would love to hear your feedback - pro or con. (The letter is re-printed below or you can go to the Georgetown Times Friday September 13, 2013 paper.) Anthony (This is not in regard to the recent post of what I saw that made me angry recently. That story is still being developed.) Dangerous driving Recently my family’s safety was endangered by the dangerous driving of a deputy with the Georgetown County Sheriff’s department. This incident made me stop and think about something that I have never given much thought. Why do we as a society allow our lives to be put at risk just because someone has a “need for assistance?” Why do we allow some irresponsible law enforcement officers to get away with risking our lives on the road just because they are supposedly traveling to another person in need of assistance? (We know that every call is a not a matter of life and death and every law enforcement officer speeding past us is not responding to a call.) Is the life of a family going out to dinner worth less than the “need” of someone that has called law enforcement for assistance? I don’t think so. I do not believe the life (or need) of someone requesting assistance warrants irresponsibly risking someone else’s life. A Georgetown County Sheriff’s Deputy passed my family doing in excess of 75 mph (in a 45 mph zone), in the center/turn lane, without siren or blue lights, at around 3:00 in the afternoon, on Highway 17 in front of the Hammock Shops on a typical crowded Saturday afternoon in late July. This irresponsible law enforcement officer risked my family’s life, his life, and everyone else’s that was unlucky enough to be in the vicinity of the missile disguised as Georgetown County Sheriff patrol car #3320. (License plate number CG66231) And why did he do this? Because, according to the deputy, he was “responding to a call.” Oh, well when you put it that way it makes perfect sense. I believe it is past time that we make our roads safer for everyone by telling our law enforcement that while we appreciate your willingness to respond to our calls for assistance, we would really appreciate it if you would not endanger your life and those of us on the road in your attempt to provide us with fast service. Responding to “an emergency call” does not grant you the right to risk life. It is neither wise nor honorable but rather illogical and immoral. And it must stop before another life is so foolishly risked. Please slow down and save a life. Anthony Culler Pawleys Island gtowntimes/letters/Letters--September-13--2013
Posted on: Mon, 16 Sep 2013 11:34:04 +0000