Dear Editor,

Every time I see on TV police officers getting killed, my heart goes out to his and her family. A 22-year New York officer was gunned down while making an arrest. Pictured his three daughters crying their eyes out. Picture a mother hearing gunshots and wrapping her arms around her children who she had picked up from school. While doing so, took a bullet to her head and died. This is only two incidents of so many.I was a Philadelphia police officer for 25 years and saw crimes that made me sick, I don't know if you heard of Frank Rizzo, who came up through the ranks of the department to become Commissioner and eventually mayor of Philadelphia. When he took over as head of the police department, he assembled his people and vowed to take back the streets of Philadelphia from the gangs, killers and rapists. His policy was fight fire with fire. Within the next three months crime dropped 60 percent. He initiated a bureau known as stakeout, where an officer was stationed where crimes were the greatest. Numerous so called "bad boys" were killed attempting to rob these establishments. The FBI was informed by various organizations calling for police brutality. In their investigation, nothing was found.Every city and small borough police department does a great job keeping citizens safe, but are losing the battle because of the lack of officers. The district attorney also does a great job, but the courts don't give severe sentences. If we don't take steps to put the dirtbags behind bars, there will be even more officers, men, women and children dying on the streets needlessly. The government should stop spending money on wasteful things and start giving the cities and boroughs money to build up their departments.Thank you.Richard FosbennerTamaqua