Police are supposed to serve and protect

Policing in the U.S. in the 21st century has got to change.

Any current or former law enforcement officer, as I was, would not be credible if they maintain there are or were no bullies serving among them.

And it is the young, the poor and the disenfranchised of any race who are going to be the ones more likely to bear the brunt of improper conduct by those who wear a badge and have a gun.

Nonetheless, it is an embarrassment to law enforcement officers of good will when others in their profession behave badly. Shooting at an unarmed suspect who is running away, or roughing up suspects in custody, is an embarrassment, no matter how fast one’s adrenaline may be pumping or how despicable the suspect is perceived to be.

Law enforcement agencies must seek to hire men and women of good will who are predisposed to place as much emphasis on "serving" as on "protecting" the public they intend to serve and protect.

Robert Griffon
Moiliili

Cars heat up fast and endanger dogs

Do you know that even with the windows cracked, dogs can die in a hot car?

Even on a 70-degree day, in less than 30 minutes it can reach 120 degrees in the car.

Dogs have no way of sweating like humans. So please don’t leave dogs in a car again.

Nadia Riggs
Kapolei

Vacation rentals are not the problem

Judy Holt is certainly correct that Kailua is changing, and not all of the changes are for the better ("Tourists, rentals overwhelm Kailua," Star-Advertiser, Letters, May 5). But to focus on the perfectly legal use of our homes to rent for 30 days or more is misguided.

Kailua has seen the construction of a massive new condominium project, the opening of our first big-box megastore and other changes that are questionable in terms of their impact on our town. The problem is the lack of intelligent land use and planning, not occasional vacation rentals.

Holt mentions "daily busloads of tourists," but they are not local vacation renters. What she fails to mention are the conversion of single-family homes into de facto multi-family apartments and ill-conceived development that overburdens our fragile infrastructure.

We should have a responsible conversation about the future of Kailua, but focusing on one group that is simply using their homes in a permitted and lawful manner is counterproductive.

Bob Kleinman
Kailua

HART claims ‘facts’ where none exist

The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation recently placed an ad in the Star-Advertiser titled "HART Facts-May 2015" (Star-Advertiser, May 3).

There were tables for Project Revenue Status and Project Cost Status, and a statement about audits. At the bottom, in large type, it said, "DID YOU KNOW? Rail will cost about half as much as TheBus to operate and maintain."

I have a couple of problems with this "fact." First, as far as I know, HART has not come forward with any projected operating costs.Second, how do they arrive at half as much as TheBus? Per passenger mile?

TheBus system covers the entire island and probably carries more passengers than the train ever will.

Kay Kibby
Makiki

Kim was punished for asking questions

As a voter, it was disappointing to witness the removal of state Sen. Donna Mercado Kim as Senate president. It appears that she was replaced by those who felt challenged or resented her search for truth.

It may have been unusual for her to sit in on committee hearings and ask questions. But if she was replaced because of her desire to obtain all the facts, then her fellow senators need to explain why they are satisfied with decision-making based on insufficient information.

This is not surprising since during elections, many candidates do not fully disclose their position on issues. This may be a reason for poor voter turnout.

How does a voter decide when a candidate’s positions are clouded in general statements without specifics?

Leonard Leong
Manoa

Colorado shooter not ready for court

Your article on the Colorado movie theater shooting was very disturbing ("Chatter turns to theater shooter’s stoic exterior," Star-Advertiser, May 1).

It was my understanding that in our judicial system, a defendant should be able to assist and understand what’s going on during the trial.

The article stated the defendant was taking the psychotropic prescription haloperidol (Haldol) and appeared catatonic. For your readers who have not seen the effects of Haldol, it is no different than a chemical lobotomy. This condition does not mean he is stable, only that the stabilization process has started.

The judge should be disbarred and the trial stopped if he cannot determine that the catatonic defendant cannot understand or participate in his defense.

If the jury is supposed to determine if the defendant is mentally ill, then slowly wean him off the heavy prescription drugs, unchain him and then decide by his behavior if he is sick or not.

Pauline Arellano
Mililani

Kudos for courage of TMT advocate

Bravo to Mailani Neal, an aspiring astronomer who started an online petition, for her courageous stand in support of the Thirty Meter Telescope.

I agree with her that this project could be a tremendous step forward in our quest for more knowledge about the beginnings of the universe.

Polynesian navigators were early explorers, "scientists" if you will, of their vast environment, using the stars to guide them. The TMT could be a modern-day Hokule‘a in our quest to expand our knowledge of our universe.

Shinye Gima
Punchbowl