I read with great concern retired Minneapolis Police Department Lt. Kim Voss’ opinion piece (“Why I am one of many former MPD officers,” Feb. 5). As a former public defender, prosecutor and judge in Minneapolis, I had cases throughout the years with countless members of the MPD, including Voss herself. Several times I accompanied police officers on ride-alongs and observed their courageous and conscientious efforts to protect the public’s safety.
It is indeed a sad state of affairs when competent, experienced officers in our community feel compelled to leave the police force to preserve their own mental and physical well-being. While there are “bad apples” in any profession — including my own — the vast majority devoting themselves to law enforcement careers are committed to the public’s best interests, placing their own lives in jeopardy every time they put on their uniforms.
Those who condemn the police would do well