How disgraceful for the Alamance County Sheriff's Department! To put three young children in harm's way in the rush to take credit for the capture of an illegal immigrant. When law enforcement shows such disregard for a defenseless child's safety, all public safety officers lose respect.

I wonder whether the officers who made the arrest would have walked away from their own children in the middle of the night in the same way. A dog in the car would have fared better. A dog at least might have spent the night safely in an animal shelter without fear of predators.

That those sworn to guard the public safety could so easily drive away from terrified, sobbing children because they belong to an illegal immigrant considered not worthy of protection is a frightening image.

Ruth Sappie, Raleigh

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