Officer Cuesta

* Re “Fusillade Hits LAPD Car; Officer Killed,” Aug. 10: Another victim of deadly gang violence. Today a police officer [Filbert H. Cuesta], yesterday a passenger in a vehicle and the day before a child playing on his/her front lawn. The wanton taking of life is becoming a daily news item and all but accepted as a way of life in many of our communities. Why must we live in fear for ourselves, family and neighbors and tolerate this wanton disregard for life by despicable, ruthless, clandestine elements of society? The police are limited in their enforcement efforts to control gang violence and are criticized and disciplined for necessary aggressive tactics and conduct.

The element involved has no respect for our rights and way of life and little or no fear of repercussions for violent, cowardly conduct.

In the next several days to come we shall mourn the fallen officer, his picture will be placed on the wall of his precinct and he will become but a statistic for all but his family and children, who will never get to know their father and what he stood for, “To Protect and to Serve.”

RICHARD W. GREEN

Ret. Capt. LAPD

Thousand Oaks

*

It’s almost like a dilemma. Citizens have a right to call the police to quiet down riotous parties. Yet sometimes when the police respond to these types of calls, they lose their lives--like, unfortunately, Cuesta lost his life. Maybe they should install bulletproof windows and video camera in police cars. This is expensive but not impossible.

BARBARA HOBBS

Gardena