Durham sheriff: I’m committed to criminal justice reform, we’ll be part of the solution

Sheriff’s message

As Sheriff and a Durham resident, I write to say our entire community should be proud of the way people are releasing their frustration. While we’ve seen street protests turn violent in other places, the activity here is peaceful and constructive. My office will continue working with the Durham Police to give our community the space it needs to peacefully protest.

Recently, I met with local residents angry about the unfulfilled promise of our country. As an African-American male, I understand their frustrations because I’ve lived it. As a law enforcement professional, I am committed to criminal justice reform and welcome the dialogue happening within our community about the injustices we’re witnessing. Together we can strive for, and achieve, law enforcement which provides enforcement without fear, just consequences and a safer community. As a fellow citizen, I pledge to work together to change the status quo in order to enhance community and police relations. Transparency, engagement and accountability are my guiding principles as sheriff. My office will be a part of the solution.

Clarence F. Birkhead, Durham County sheriff

Ace Speedway

So-called “peaceful demonstrators” roamed streets of N.C. cities, no social distancing or masks required. Meanwhile in Alamance County, peaceful, law-abiding citizens hoping for a little innocent fun by attending an automobile race at Ace Speedway learned that Superior Court Judge D. Thomas Lambeth ordered the track closed. The state’s attorney Andrew Kasper stated during a hearing: “There is a risk of irreparable harm if the races are allowed to occur.” One must therefore assume that, somehow, far larger crowds with many participants not wearing masks are immune to rules enforcement.

Only in politically correct America!

B.V. Cooper, Chapel Hill

Fort Bragg

As an alternative name for Fort Bragg, let me propose Gen. Colin Powell, who attended the Army Special Warfare Center there in 1962. Powell served two tours in Vietnam, received a Purple Heart, survived a helicopter crash, and single-handedly rescued three people from the burning wreckage. He rose to Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and his service was critical in the success of the first Gulf War. He also served as national security adviser and secretary of state. Powell’s exemplary career is infinitely more worthy of the honor of having a military facility named after him than Braxton Bragg.

Joseph Glatthaar, Chapel Hill

Name changes

I can understand the feelings of some about the name of places like Fort Bragg. My question is: Where do we stop? There are 64 counties in the U.S. named for Confederate soldiers, and a countless number of cities and towns. Once we start down the slippery slope of name changes, do we change all of them? Where do we stop?

George Summers, Oxford

Tear gas

We are 10 physicians specializing in infectious and pulmonary diseases and infection prevention at UNC’s School of Medicine. As health professionals, we are alarmed by the use of tear gas to disperse peaceful demonstrators. This poses both an immediate and long-term risk to the health of citizens on whom it is used, as well as a broader public health risk. We oppose its current use in the strongest terms.

The use of aerosolized agents known to induce coughing and increase respiratory secretions and tear production increase the risk of further spreading the COVID-19 virus, resulting in widespread disease and unnecessary death. Since many citizens participating in demonstrations are members of demographic groups already at increased risk of COVID-19 disease, we are concerned that use of tear gas will lead to even greater COVID-19 disparities.

We call on our elected leaders and law enforcement departments to prohibit the use of tear gases and similar agents at this time and select alternative methods of crowd control that pose less risk to individuals and to the public’s health.

Dr. Brian Bramson and nine other UNC School of Medicine physicians

Wearing masks

At Harris-Teeter in Raleigh’s Cameron Village recently, only about half the customers were wearing masks. Perhaps the others have not heard that mask-wearing protects other people from being infected by coronavirus. Or, they do not care.

It is bad enough to impose this risk on the other customers who pass near you. It is even worse to impose it on the Harris-Teeter employees who spend entire shifts there. Some of us have conditions that could make a coronavirus infection fatal.

Whole Foods provides free masks at the entrance for customers who don’t come with one. Why does Harris-Teeter not do the same? We all need groceries.

Christina Cowger, Raleigh

Note: A Harris Teeter spokeswoman said the company’s stores encourage mask wearing to protect shoppers and store employees, but will not refuse entry to customers without masks.