Ride along is common practice

Editor,

This letter is in response to the letter from M.J. Monroe. First of all, it is common practice for law enforcement officers to allow occasional riders. Second, I have yet to see someone not allowed to do so because they happen to be a woman.

M.J. Monroe is quite obviously on opposite sides of the fence when it comes to local law enforcement and with women in general.

I would suspect this person may be opposed to police officers being human beings as it is easier to be on the other side if one does so. The statements "a woman to boot" and "was she trying to pat the Sheriff and the Tribal police for doing their job" strongly suggests M.J.Monroe knows nothing of what an officer goes through in the performance of his or her job in such situations or the amount of fear when entering a situation where idiots have weapons.

My own son is a sheriff's deputy in another county and has on numerous occasions entered meth labs and hostage situations and has, on certain occasions, had a rider with him at the time of the call. The rider stays with the car to the rear of the action and is at no time placed in harm's way.

I doubt that Julie Berry was ever in any danger, and I am sure the fact that she is a woman had little to do with it. It's most likely standard operating procedure.

I am sure if M.J. asked to ride along with an officer this would be allowed and I am sure sexual orientation would not be questioned or taken into consideration, but a person's criminal background would be considered, which may be a problem for some.

I appreciate freedom, I fought for it. I appreciate personal opinion, I fought for that, too.

What I don't appreciate is complete ignorance and that is what I read in M.J. Monroe's letter.

I hope and pray this is not how the community thinks.

Chuck Ripley

Polson