
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: MONDAY, July 30, 1990                   TAG: 9007310316
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A/6   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

POLICE WHO BREAK LAWS DESERVE GREATER PENALTY

I READ with much disgust the story July 12 about Lt. George Sutherland, head of the Roanoke City Police Department Vice Bureau, being charged with reckless and drunken driving. I also read about Lt. John Barrett, head of the Roanoke Police Academy, being convicted of driving drunk in Roanoke County and slapped on the wrist with a $100 fine and a suspended 30-day jail sentence.

One story mentioned that the car driven by Sutherland was a red Porsche that had belonged to Ronny Grogan, "a suspected drug dealer." I read about this same red Porsche a few months ago in a story that mentioned a grief-stricken mother, Mrs. Grogan, who was stripped by our authorities of everything that her son had left her. This Porsche belonged to Mrs. Grogan, but she was deprived of it because somebody "decided," not proved, that it was purchased with drug proceeds.

The black Nissan Maxima that Grogan was driving the night of his death was also confiscated. Mrs. Grogan, who works two or three jobs, had to buy it back from our fair city, Roanoke, so she could at least have her son's car, since she had lost him so tragically.

She had suffered so much. Her red Porsche was taken away so that our police personnel could party in style.

When police break laws, instead of being slapped on the wrist they should be punished much more severely than the average person, because police are educated about what is involved and are aware of the consequences of their actions - not only to themselves but also to the innocent persons they put in jeopardy with these actions.

MILDRED L. FERGUSON\ ROANOKE

by CNB