Bravo to Police

The Chula Vista Police Department deserves positive recognition. The way they handled the recent hostage situation at the ready-care center in their city displayed courage and intelligence. At a time when police policy seems to follow the shoot-first-and-ask-questions-later code of the Old West, it is refreshing to see a policy of restraint with a respect for human life.

The Chula Vista police showed respect for the life of the suspect as well as the hostages, even though the suspect was wanted for murder and burglary. By simply waiting and negotiating, they went further than saving lives. This positive approach set an example that, hopefully, will be difficult for other law enforcement agencies to disregard.

D.L. FLETCHER, Solana Beach