◆ SpookStack

(Mount Casoog © Space Becw) ede ! | __ Law enforcement demands To The Editor: We want protection from those bad Buys. from theit malice toward us and our families’ We look to our law- enforcement officers for that protection. Protect us, we say — but do it by the rules. Follow our Constitution, we Say, and do that dangerous work with the least possible impingement on individa- als’ rights. Expose yourselves to the worst instincts and most vicious im- nmuleoe af th vimaimt oe aot r SOD une most unprincipled human beings, and do it all the time adhering to the best and highest standards of our would-be civilized society. This would seem to be a preposterous notion. except that thousands of people — this nation’s law-enforcement offi- cers — do if every day. A handful of them were doing this hard duty last Friday morning. April 11, in Kendall pehben the slaughier began. What hap- ; pened in the next moments brought , home, in the crueiest and most vivid | way. what it can mean to be a ‘law-enforcement officer in a civilized society. It means that wicked and greedy people will try to kill you. it means that you will fight to protect yourself and your colleagues, but will take care to hurt no bystanders, holding your fire as, in fear or bewilderment, they pass. All the while, the shooting at you will continue and, at the worst, will strike home. Even at the best, when the arrest "oes peacefully and there are no tragic otadlines and black strips of tape on police officers* badges, law enforcement is a hard duty. The officer must not only make his case, but also frequently must defend It and his behavior from attack \agreat job." "plating the essential mystery of human he officers always viewed it with “altruism end goodness in an imperfect . iM & System that tests to the maximum the strength and propriety of each oposed prosecution. ; AS a novice prosecutor, | sed to Gristle at the routine attacks of defense’ tounsel In the courtroom on . the Suthfulness and integrity of faw- enforcement officers. I would be even nore {infuriated when, out in the ‘allway and_away from the jury, the arm on the agent's s Tt ate «= Page 26A Eaton BROWARD April 19, 1986 rte ! « ! - Che alter : of Ciats cation $2zmn-, O1ce MIAMI te eenin the best in us _ lemg-care Dest Tame Of “wSrare’ Cf, ans slate | SBE MIAMI BERALD i Miami, Plorida os | Herald Staft Medics rush wounded FBI agent from scene would put an wider and say, “It's nothing personal. You guys do a same defense attorne more equanimity, and even humor, than I did. Perhaps they understood detter ifthe essential paragox of their role. or - st accepted dt more: .A society that Bese for Doth security and liberty will “never be an easy place for those committed to ensuring each, at peril of their lives. What impels men and women to take on such difficult jobs? The answer cannot be full sated. it de the ame answer each of us makes When contem- world. We can only recognize it when it happens and be grateful. These are our. “heroes. Assistant U.S. Atiomey Miami ~~ * * * "AROLINE HECK Pee