I am writing in response to Jason Misleh's column "Police officers put themselves at risk, deserve 'U' respect" (SN 11/17).

The purpose of police officers is to serve and protect. They cannot serve and protect if they stop being aggressive or are immobilized.

I admit that some officers might think they are better than the average Joe or might have the rookie syndrome, which is when new officers work as much as they can. Officers need to prove that they are here for our safety and to enforce the laws. They will only be brutal if needed: if the suspect is fighting back or is known to be armed.

As a cadet for the MSU police department, I have a pretty good idea which officers would use force necessarily and unnecessarily.

Officer Elizabeth Riggs is not one to use force unnecessarily. She is a very caring and thoughtful person.

Riggs did the right thing by shooting the suspect at Kresge Art Center.

She had no idea if the suspect was armed or unarmed, and he could have injured her or another officer at anytime.

In fact, after the incident occurred, I was speaking with one of her colleagues and he said that he would have done a lot more damage than she had done.

So, it is not just one officer; many officers would put themselves at risk like she did. I'm in agreement with Misleh. Officers do need a lot more respect than they're given. They are here to protect us.

Do something for them to show you're grateful.

Stefanie Mason
interdisciplinary studies in social science and political science sophomore