Local officer’s good judgment commendable

Ediorial
   The Ledger commends Patrolman Joseph Radlinsky for his actions on the evening of Feb. 14.
   When faced with what appeared to be a life-threatening situation — a man pointing a pistol in his direction — the patrolman drew his weapon, fired once and then took cover.
   Later, police apprehended the suspect and his "pistol," which turned out to be a BB gun.

   The job of a police officer is not an easy one. Daily, these men and women come into contact with the elements of our society that scare us the most. Quite often, the threat of death is all around. It’s at a murder crime scene. It’s at a car accident on a rain slicked road. It’s also in the form of a man pointing a gun in the woods at night.
   Someone who points a toy gun at another person, especially a person they know is certainly armed with something more lethal than a peashooter, does not value his life. But that does not mean that life must be forfeited.
   Patrolman Radlinsky shot once and only once, proving that his chief concern in firing his weapon was protecting his own life — not taking the life of another.
   No one can say why it took four New York City plainclothes police officers 41 shots to assure themselves of their safety the night Amadou Diallo made a sudden move as though to reach for a gun, but it did.
   However, the single shot fired from Patrolman Radlinsky’s gun says a lot about where his mind was during this incident. Also, it reinforces the notion that there are good, level-headed police officers in the world at a time when society seems really to need them.
   Patrolman Radlinsky shot once because he was trying to preserve his life, not because he wanted to kill. He shot once because he was trying to stop someone he thought to be a threat to the safety and welfare of Lawrence, not because he engages in profiling. He fired once because he was doing his job, not because he had a score to settle.
   The police in this country, and especially in this state, have lost some respect, some trust and, consequently, some ability to do the job they were hired to do. This is not because all police officers are crooked or prejudiced, but because there are some who are.
   Bad police officers made it necessary for 77 cases to be dismissed by state Attorney General John J. Farmer due to racial profiling. Bad police officers make policing difficult.
   What’s easy to forget is that we have so many more good police officers.
   Good police officers prove the job can be done — safely, effectively and legally. Good police officers restore our faith in the system. Thank goodness for good police officers, like Patrolman Joseph Radlinsky.