I heard Phil Berger Jr. say that people who are undecided in the Rockingham County district attorney's race should ask law-enforcement officials whom they are voting for.
I spoke with deputies, police officers and even members of the Highway Patrol, and each one I spoke with said they were voting for Phil. But that should not come as a surprise. People in law enforcement, like all citizens, are tired of the plea bargains Belinda's been handing out.
If you aren't sure whom to vote for in the DA's race, do what I did and ask the police officers who are in court on a regular basis whom they are voting for and why.
Chrissy Dalton
Stoneville
Comments (3)
I disagree with that advice. What makes you think that a cop's advice is any better than anyone else's? Does a cop always have fairness and justice in mind or are there times when they just want to have the case solved and the bad guys locked up?
Judges should not be extensions of the police. They serve completely different functions. Judges should be fair-minded people capable of independent thought and knowledge of the law.
Posted by nitpicker![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://blog.news-record.com/staff/letters/nav-commenters.gif)
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October 6, 2006 11:13 AM
"Judges should not be extensions of the police."
That's about as true as it gets.
Posted by janherman![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://blog.news-record.com/staff/letters/nav-commenters.gif)
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October 6, 2006 11:19 AM
Phil Berger is running for District Attorney not a judgeship. The DA is an extension of law enforcement. When that office decides it is easier to plea bargain cases rather than try them then the public loses. One case I know was a First Degree murder charge (execution style) that was plea bargained even though there was more than sufficient evidence to convict. The charge was reduced to 2nd degree manslaughter and a 16 year sentence. Is that justice?
Posted by Free American![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://blog.news-record.com/staff/letters/nav-commenters.gif)
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October 6, 2006 2:28 PM