Dear Editor:
Professor Prince, like most "Monday-morning quarterbacks," isquick to point a finger, offer an explanation for some action orsimply call those who must deal with a problem incompetent.
In his letter to the editor on Tuesday, he was quick to pointout that the "typical police response" would come "down to blamingthe victim." He listed four mistakes that, as he pointed out, were"indications that Duplain is either wholly incompetent as a policeofficer or is inadequately trained."
Now remember: Professor Prince was not there. I will bet that hehas never been the first officer on a scene of an unknown problemor forced to walk into a dark alley unsure of what he would find. Ihave walked into those alleys, and I have had to live with the snapdecisions I made -- good or bad -- and so will Officer Duplain. So,I must point out that the professor's four points are simply hisopinion; in my opinion, they're just hot air.
The questions of training and the officer's competency arealways raised when something like this happens. The fact is thatOfficer Duplain had been trained by following state law-enforcementguidelines and was doing his job (a job that most of you do notwant to do).
McKinney, by drinking too much and banging on the wrong door,started a sequence of events that ended in a horrible accident.
You can blame this on Duplain's training or on McKinney drinkingtoo much alcohol, but no matter who you blame, the facts are thesame: one man is dead and one man will have to live with that.
McKinney is a victim of a horrible mistake, but so is Duplain.What makes it worse is that Duplain's "victim status" will beoverlooked because he is still alive.
There were two victims that morning, and both of them need yourprayers and understanding.
Eric Richardson
graduate student
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