Published: May 03, 2008 10:33 pm         

Our Readers Speak - Sunday, May 4, 2008

Police officers deserve more respect, support



I am writing to speak on the behalf of my daddy and other hard-working police officers. My daddy is a West Virginia State Police officer. He works a normal five-day week and always is on call. Whereas, many times my daddy is late coming home, very tired, and doesn’t get to spend much quality time with family.

Some people can understand that police officers have a very hard job, while others criticize and show no respect. These days, parents do not teach their children any respect for law, media and news being very unfavorable, and people being judgmental.

First of all, police officers have a very hard job. They risk their lives every day and they have to deal with the unheard of. Every day is a new task and a new difficulty. They do not deal with the same assignment day after day. Police officers do not get off when they want to or whenever they want to. They don’t have the choice. They do not leave until their job for that day is done. Whether it means night or day, they are still on call.

Today in society, you have co-workers who bicker and fight. Whereas, police officers have a special bond, they are family. They look after each other, help each other when needed, and they put a smile on each other’s faces and they all pitch in. I think that the bond they have together as a society is just unimaginable.

Moreover, parents do not teach their children any respect for law. Police officers in today’s society are “The Bad Guy” due to the parenting they are receiving at home. I know this from experience because I hear this every day while I have been in school. Because of this, the children are scared of police officers. These children need to be taught the importance of what they do and how they can help you in a time of need. Children need to be educated by their parents in the right way.

Next, you have the media and news who are somewhat very unfavorable. They choose to release information that is misleading and/or negative toward police officers. Where’s the compassion and support?

Lastly, I am a 12-year-old daughter of a West Virginia State Police officer. I look up to my daddy as a true American hero. Now, I hope you have changed your opinion on how you think of police officers.



Hayley Pioch

Beckley



Where is justice for child support?



This is for all mothers of children and to anyone who may have answers or help for me and others in the State of West Virginia.

I live in Oak Hill. I have tried every avenue possible and now have decided that I need help way beyond local agencies because I am not getting any from the local agencies here in Fayette County nor from the Bureau of Child Support in Charleston. I also sent an e-mail to Sen. Shirley Love, and Sens. Byrd and Rockefeller asking for help. I hope to hear from them soon.

I have been having trouble with the DHHR Child Support system for some time now.

I am beyond myself with worry and stress. I will try briefly to explain my situation.

Over nine months I have asked for help for my child, to no avail. Legal Aid of W.Va. does not help parents with child support issues; the state child support office in Charleston and my local office here in Oak Hill are also no help.

My ex-spouse is behind on his child support. I have no income for a lawyer to represent me nor my child.

And the child support agencies always tell me when I call for help that they do not represent me nor my child, they represent the state. You are made to feel like you are being a bother to them, when all you are trying to do is everything for your child. I understand there are hundreds of cases just like mine that are being handled, because I am rudely reminded of this each time I talk to my local office that I am not the only case they have. Maybe the state needs to look into hiring additional people to help out, so that so many cases won’t be lost in all the paperwork and children would get what they deserve — support from their fathers.

You hear of so many cases, and deadbeat dads, and cases that are being dismissed because of a 10-year statue of limitations. I am beginning to think this may even happen to my child and she will not get anything from her father because of the system. There need to be changes or something done.

I have not received anything since July 2007 and our state BCSE does nothing to enforce this, such as liens, sale of property, revoke his driver’s license or file contempt against these deadbeat dads. Although they have pamphlets in Family Court stating these methods can be done, they leave that up to me and other mothers who can’t afford to hire a lawyer. My ex-husband had the money to get a lawyer and can’t pay his child support. Where is justice in that?

He took me back to family court to modify his monthly obligation from $280 to $50. That is $12.50 a week!

I am now at a brick wall, again. I find myself wondering what the word in child enforcement is suppose to mean if it isn’t enforced for the child.

Is there any advice anyone can give me? Or know anyone to help me? Or in the same situation? Please respond to this.

Please help me. I have no other options but to beg for help at this point. I love my child and I believe in my heart she deserves help.



Susan Lynn Rose

Oak Hill



Store clerks just doing their jobs



I have read the latest stories on fuel prices and being that I work in the convenience store line, I felt I have to say some things.

First, the issue of pre-paying. Whether you know it or not, there are a few good reasons for that. We who work the counters, if we have drive-offs, with the price being so high, a lot of companies are or are heavily considering taking it from our paychecks, as well as the possibility of termination. Buying my own fuel is expensive enough, and I definitely don't want to lose my job over a loser.

The companies themselves lose money. Where is that being business smart if you allow people to drive away with a free tank of gas when we all have to pay for ours and they're taking the loss because people don’t want to shop a location because it's prepay?

Contrary to what a lot of people think, we do not get discounts on fuel and we pay the same high prices you all do. We also have to prepay places we shop just the same as any of you. I don’t like it any more than any of you, but companies have to protect themselves and their employees, just the same as your job does you and your fellow co-workers.

Secondly is the fact our jobs are just as dangerous as working in coal mines or hauling explosives (Remember the Ghent tragedy? God bless all those families). We have to face everything from theft to robbery to people that aren’t mentally stable and the list goes on. With the price of fuel being so high, now we’re faced with being robbed at the register for fuel in addition to all the bad things we were already submersed in.

I know that sounds crazy, but so is the world we live in.

We also have to deal with rowdy people blaming us for things we have absolutely no control over.

I’ve worked in the business for going on 13 years, and I enjoy it for the most part because interacting with people is a blast.

The last thing I have to say is simply this, have some patience with us and try to understand the things we have to deal with, and that we’re just the messenger. When you think how badly you hate to do this or that when you shop a store, we hate it more for having to be the ones to enforce our companies’ policies and making things tough on you all.

But it is our job, and we have rules and guidelines to follow the same as anyone else. For just a moment, close your eyes and put yourself in our shoes and then ask yourself what you would do.



Aaron Gunther

Beckley