Disagrees with police policy on giving rides
I hate to be writing a second letter about our police department.
I was leaving my office at the “W” tonight, after midnight, and I passed a woman (wearing a mask) walking along Third Avenue. She asked me for a ride to the Regal Motel. The Homeless Coalition had gotten her a room for two nights. I told her I had boxes of books in the passenger seat and couldn’t take her but that I would call the police and see if they could help her. It was already below freezing.
Again, I was told by the 911 operator that it was against police policy to give anyone a ride. I asked the operator to have a policeman phone me. This time, someone did. He confirmed that it was against policy because of Covid. He said the police chief asked the city council and they approved the measure.
I reminded the officer of all the wonderful videos you seen on the internet where policemen go out of their way across America to help people. You see policemen bringing bicycles to children, bringing blankets to older people, and doing all sorts of kind things that are not in any “policy.”
Yet, in Columbus, they can arrest someone for not wearing a mask, put them in their car and take them to jail but they can’t give a woman, wearing a mask, a ride to a homeless shelter.
Bob Raymond
Columbus
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
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