OFFICERS COULD HAVE DIFFERENT POT OPINION

Editor:

I spent many of the happiest summers of my life in Ocean City. As a
bystander, I know Ocean City's police officers well, and have
observed their responses to scores of "breach of the peace" incidents.

Ocean City Police Chief Bernadette DiPino's strident opposition to
any degree of decriminalization or legalization of marijuana ("Police
Chief rails against pot legalization," in your Jan. 14 issue) should
certainly be considered when Ocean City decides what to do about
proposed local and state changes to medical and recreational marijuana laws.

But Chief DiPino is just one voice. The Police Department employs
nearly 100 officers, and each officer has his or her years of
experiences and conclusions.

As Ocean City considers future changes in marijuana laws and
policies, each Ocean City police officer should be asked this
question: "When I respond to a public or domestic disturbance
involving intoxication, which substance typically leads to the safest
resolution? Which substance typically leads to the most dangerous and
violent resolution? Which substance do I and my fellow officers fear
more? On Ocean City's sidewalks and boardwalk, in Ocean City's
apartments, and in police incidents throughout Maryland and the
nation, which substance is involved in more assaults on officers and
deaths of officers: legal alcohol or illegal marijuana?"

It may surprise Ocean City's voters and elected officials that Chief
DiPino has one opinion about marijuana, and scores of her officers,
who risk their lives during every shift, have a very different opinion.

Robert Merkin

Chesterfield, Mass.