Give credit where credit is overdue

To the editor: I have been a Warwick resident for the last 30 years and want to thank the police officers of the Warwick Valley Police Department. They are a special body of people whom I feel rarely get the credit they deserve. Most of us I have had to call on them several times for assistance, myself included. Typically it is not a happy situation. I have dealt with several of the officers and I have always been treated with respect, care and concern. This is more than I can about most of the people I encounter during my daily endeavors. Often I hear that our department overpays their employees. Our town is the largest in square miles, so our local officers have a lot of area to cover, a lot of residences to protect and numerous issues regardless of the severity. Maybe their jobs might not seem as exciting as CSI New York, but I can assure you that when they see a local resident harmed or injured they feel more compassion due to the close nature of our community. Much of our society has lost one of its most important elements and that is respect. The Police Department was created to maintain law and order and sadly, the men and woman who take on this challenge daily get the least respect. Without law enforcement, there would be anarchy. Hopefully, many of you will read this and be courteous to the men and woman who took an oath to keep our society safe and do not forget they are there day or night, regardless of the nature of the crime. Holly Davison Pine Island