To the editor:
I am writing to add my “two cents” to a subject people have argued over for awhile: Defunding the police.
We see on TV and in newspapers horrific acts taking place. We should know that the people involved are a small minority compared to those doing great things and putting their lives on the line every day.
I am blessed to do what I do every day. I get to talk about, meet and make friends with a great deal of young men and women and their families in a great city.
I’ve watched them perform on the ice, court, and field. I’ve watched these young men and women grow from Little League, Pop Warner Babe Ruth, high school, and college.
I see them battle through difficult, tense times.
I’ve watched them win Super Bowls, state and league championships and, more often than not, have winning seasons, overcoming many obstacles in their way.
I’ve seen these great young people come back to live, work and contribute to the city they grew up in.
They contribute as service members, police officers, firefighters, emergency-medical technicians and health workers, putting their lives on the line during the difficult COVID-19 pandemic.
Others give back as teachers, coaches, athletic directors, nurses, lawyers, and business owners. Others work to keep Lynn solvent by serving on the School Committee, City Council or as superintendents, state representatives and state senators.
The police and fire personnel do outstanding work to keep all of us safe and secure. These are jobs most of us would never consider (there are easier ways to make a living). We often don’t think of them when we don’t need them. The only time we hear about them are those negative times.
Their daily routines aren’t TV and front-page news. We might have a different opinion if more of their outstanding work was also published. They work so hard to save our lives, property, and businesses.
Our brave police officers and firefighters perform over and above running Christmas parties for our children, helping to run teen nights at Lynn Tech, and working with the Salvation Army and other local organizations to help the needy.
Many volunteer their time, energy and money. They also help the great teachers and students who organize Toys for Tots, food drives, blood drives and work at My Brother’s Table.
I can attest to how important these people are. I just had a difficult health situation and I thank God for the help I received from police, fire, medical people and the staff at Salem Hospital.
We should all be very grateful for all the great volunteers and workers who are responsible for all of us to be safe, secure and healthy, as well as those teaching and taking care of our kids.
I hope we can all understand how important and needed in our lives these people are. Hopefully, next time we see or come in contact with them we can greet them with a huge smile, a happy “hello” followed by a “thank you for your service.”
I come in contact with many of these people more than most and am happy to say “thank you.” I know them and am very grateful to call most of them my friends. I am greatly appreciative having them around. Thank you all.
John Hoffman, TV15 Sports
Lynn
