As a taxpayer, I came away flabbergasted and ashamed that our elected officials, once again, have allowed the vocal firebrands to dictate policy. I, quite naturally, had assumed legal recourse was a given when a trooper, in the performance of his job, had to defend himself in a courtroom.

Not so — the attorney general makes a decision whether to provide this help; and we all know how independent that office is of politics.

The Whitman administration has delegated its responsibilities in deference to people who continually look to "ignite the fire" anytime, anywhere. With no background in law enforcement, the Council of Ministers has superimposed itself into the fray and determined it will be the safeguard between right and wrong.

The Rev. Al Sharpton has ruled, through divine intervention, that these troopers should be in jail. In the meantime, two men — who were doing their job — have been suspended from that job without pay and without benefits, and without state-funded counsel.

I remember numerous articles regarding sexual harassment in the workplace and state officials being charged. Their defense was paid in full by the state.

I don’t understand why a "desk jockey" would be granted the benefit of legal counsel and why a state trooper, while each day risking his life, is refused such an indulgence.

I don’t know if how these two troopers reacted on the turnpike was correct or not. I do know I want the police to do the job they have been trained to perform and I want them to perform to the best of their ability.

If gutless politicians, with their eye toward future ambitions and outside agitators, who always have all the answers after something happens, are allowed to dictate the outcome of these two troopers’ lives, I don’t know how we can expect any policeman to do his job.

Richard C. Miller

Allentown