The Fraternal Order of Police hadn't always been financially secure in the past, but since Berl Perdue, Keith Mulliken and numerous others took leadership, they've worked hard to make it sound.
If you ask any child or parent who has received help from this organization, they will tell you who is in charge of the F.O.P. Shop With a Cop program. I can assure that you will not find Billy Claypoole's name in any conversation. Berl Perdue has organized and run the Shop With a Cop program for years. I was present when it started. The program has provided toys, clothing and personal items to thousands of children, no matter what their color or their status in the community - black, white or Hispanic, it doesn't matter. It's about giving to a needy child.
I know when you run for elected office, you're opening yourself for ridicule, but to attack Berl Perdue for doing a service for all the underprivileged children in the county is pathetic.
Mark A. Brown
Winchester
ELECTED OFFICIALS MUST REPRESENT ALL RACES
To the Sun:
There are a large number of people, mostly Democrats, who will not be voting in November. These registered voters are not going to bother to vote because they have discovered that politicians stand before voters and lie. These potential voters also realize that many of them are not represented at all. You may think it is just Washington, D.C., or Frankfort that I am referring to; however, the same thing happens in Winchester.
From 1971 to 1999, I was employed by and retired from various law enforcement agencies. The one time I really needed the court to help me, I was actually laughed at in court and in front of the person who had broken the law and stolen $10,000 from me. The Clark county attorney stood before the court and said, "This is one of those cases we need to dispose of." During the course of my testimony, the judge and the prosecutor made jokes about my stupidity in paying for a junk van. The judge dismissed the charges without requiring him to testify, even though Kentucky law indicated that he had committed a felony.
I strongly feel that African Americans are not being fairly represented by our elected officials. This is a feeling that is shared by many African Americans in this country.
Before candidates come into our community and ask to put their signs in our yards, they should know that we are not apathetic, nor are we stupid. We are just fed up with deception. Candidates need to be prepared to represent everyone, including us, or just leave us alone.
Reed Hampton
Winchester
