Letter: Parade-goer noticed no ‘great care’

Like thousands of others, I thoroughly enjoyed this year’s Spanish Town Parade, a great parade with great weather — for a change. I’m writing today in response to Lt. Don Kelly’s “Ask the Advocate” response to the recent police incident following the Spanish Town Parade. I know Lt. Kelly and respect his position as the mouthpiece for the Baton Rouge Police Department, no doubt a demanding and difficult job.

However, I along with my kids and friends, witnessed firsthand the hasty and dangerous response by the BR police to the post-parade altercation between a couple of revelers and a police officer. We were on the corner of North Boulevard and Fourth Street as we witnessed a number of police cars speeding through downtown placing bystanders and parade-goers at risk. Frankly speaking, it looked like all hell had broken loose — a helicopter hovering above, mounted police galloping, vehicles screaming by, people scared etc., etc.

I disagree with Lt. Kelly’s statement (that the police responded without injuring anyone) “proves that they exercised great care and concern for the safety of everyone in the area.” It appeared that this time the “concern and great care” that Lt. Kelly spoke to gave way to tunnel vision, a lead foot and total disregard for pedestrians and parade-goers. My hope is that a little more communication, discretion and caution be used in the future.

William “Bill” Sherman

video producer/journalist

Baton Rouge

Comments

1) Comment by 8point6 - 10/03/2013

@CBCS: Good one!

2) Comment by chem - 10/03/2013

****Comment Removed for Violation of Terms of Use****

3) Comment by prbeav - 09/03/2013

I get that message: rather than enforce the law, turn Baton Rouge over to the drunks and thugs and let them battle it out.

4) Comment by Attila - 09/03/2013

If law enforcement doing what it is supposed to do offends or scares you Mr. Sherman, I suggest you simply don't go to the parade. Problem solved.

5) Comment by CountryBoysCanSurvive - 09/03/2013

A scenario doomed for failure. A police officer cries for help, moody officers fueled by early morning doughnuts, rush to the rescue, whistling the Dukes of Hazard theme song. Say it ain't so Lt. Kelly.

6) Comment by Bighug - 09/03/2013

Every comment I've read from witnesses of that incident say the police over-reacted. It seems to be the rule anytime it is another policeman in trouble. Never heard of the problem of police overacting to aid a mere public citizen.

7) Comment by prbeav - 08/03/2013

I have attended many Live After Five and other downtown events, always cautious about my surroundings, but never suspecting danger from the police. Sherman's experience reduces my sense of security there. There is no doubt that in public outbreaks the police are in a tough situation, but denial will not help prepare for the future.