An Open Letter to Mayor Gould, City Administrator Joseph Braun, and Members of the Beacon City Council

I have been following the ongoing saga of the City of Beacon Police Department since my retirement in August of 2003.  The accusations, the lawsuits, the investigations and so on. While it is my opinion that the department and its officers have been cast aside for the sake of politics and personal agendas I find it most disturbing that it has been over a month and there has not been one statement by the City Council in regard to the shooting of Police Officer Anthony Hopper. I worked with Officer Hopper and know him to be a fine man and an excellent police officer.  Although I do not know Officer Jose Martinez (Hopper's partner) I have met him and he appears to be a fine young man.  In any event it is obvious that these two heroes put their lives on the line for the people of the City of Beacon.  Answering a call as simple as a suspicious person in a parking lot in the middle of the day almost cost them  their lives.  And because of the selfish act of an 18 year old thug these two men and their families will have to live with the effects of his reckless actions for the rest of their lives. And the only statement I have seen from the city is a quote in the local newspaper about how the Council approved money for vests just prior to this incident, never miss an opportunity to blow your own horn. As usual all talk, no action.  While I appreciate the problems between the City and the Chief of Police I feel it unfortunate that the administration would treat their police officers, who they say they support, in such a way.  I have also talked to both Officers Hopper and Martinez and can not believe that not one of you has reached out to them to see how they and their families are doing since the shooting.  It is unfortunate that the relationship between the city and the police department has been allowed to continue in such a way as common decency is not even recognized.

"Regretfully" Submitted,
Paul J. Schettino (Retired Lieutenant)
City of Beacon Police Department 1981 - 2003

Comments

[B. Eakins]

Sounds like rather shabby treatment of dedicated employees by city leaders who have forgotten how to say "thank you" for a job (unappreciated) well done. Or is it a failure of leadership- waiting until all the legal challenges are complete before committing to support of the officers? Either way it does not speak well of the administration.

[Fedup]

2007 is a city election year... I need not elaborate...

[BR]

just want to say, although this is probably not the best forum to say so, that as a citizen of beacon, officer hopper and martinez are definitely appreciated by us. if it wasn't one of them who got shot that day, it certainly would have been one of us. god bless you and thank you city of beacon pd, you are appreciated by it's citizens, and don't let any politician's attitude change that impression

[Jeanne J. Hillery]

I watched Officer Anthony Hopper
of the Beacon PD grow from a boy to manhood. I watched him work his way up the ladder from Security to finally being able to fullfil his dream to be a police officer. I have never seen anyone
work so hard to achieve a dream
and never give up on that dream no matter how tough it got to keep it alive. I was there the day Anthony graduated from the Police Academy, to see his dream come true was something that defies words. I guess I want to say to all those who live in Beacon and the ones who pull all the political strings in the city of Beacon, I hope you relize how lucky you are to have to Officer Hopper. You would be hard pressed to find another officer who has such dedication to protect and serve. I also know that Anthony did not take this job for the glory and the thankyous, he took it because he wanted to make a difference in this world and maybe make it a little better place for everyone. That being said non the less he should be thanked as should Officer Martinez, you can rest easier knowing your city has true heros like these 2 fine young men. Their
families and children should be thanked for all the hours they spend looking into the dark and watching the clock, praying the phone does not ring, supporting them because they know what they do is a huge part of who they are.
You would have to know Officer Hopper the way I do to really understand that he is the real deal and I doubt you ever will, I am his mother. Thankyou Anthony and Jose you will always be heros to me.