Responding to ‘true heroes’ letter

This letter is in response to Andrew Reilly’s letter, as to who were/are the heroes of Hurricane Sandy.

Mr. Reilly is under the mistaken impression, that our police, firefighters and first-responders are all being paid the “big bucks.”

First let me ask a few questions:

Is his son/daughter a police officer?

Does he/she strap on a bullet proof vest and a gun before each shift, not knowing what the shift will bring?

Does he understand that being a police officer is a dangerous job, and that what our police officers are being paid, is probably not enough to put their life in danger to help others?

Does he personally know what the police were doing, (and continue to do) during the hurricane?

Does Mr. Reilly know that our firefighters and firs- responders are not paid to do their jobs? That they are volunteers, who again, put themselves in harms way to help others.

They are not asking to be made heroes. They are just doing their jobs.

Mr. Reilly gave a snapshot of what was personally happening for him. Does he think that he was the only one inconvenienced?

Life goes on, even during emergencies.

People go on living, and doing the business of living.

Should the village mayor, and the town supervisor have personally shown up at Mr. Reilly’s door to see what they could do for him? And as far as Mr. Reilly’s family not having food and water, why didn’t Mr. Reilly go out and get food and water and take care of his family?

This is just another example of “a sense of entitlement” and not knowing all the facts/information, before putting your foot in your mouth.

The Warwick Police Department is an excellent police department, and we are lucky to have them in times of emergencies.

Susan McEnerney-Brasier

Warwick